CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Churches: Theft

Eric Pickles: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners what assessment the Church Commissioners have made of the prevalence of theft of lead from church roofs; and what estimate has been made of the value of lead stolen in the last 12 months.

Stuart Bell: I understand that in 2007, the last full year for which figures are available, Ecclesiastical Insurance, which insures most Church of England churches, received 2,300 claims relating to the theft of metal from Anglican churches with a total value of £9 million. This compares with 80 claims totalling £300,000 in 2005. By the end of September this year, they had already received claims for more than £8 million so 2008 will clearly be the worst year yet for the theft of metals (predominantly lead) from churches.
	This is a serious and widespread problem and the Church continues to work with insurers and the police to find a solution to it. I would draw parishes' attention to guidance provided by the Archbishops Council:
	www.churchcare.co.uk
	and by Ecclesiastical Insurance:
	www.ecclesiastical.com/theftofmetal

WALES

Departmental Pensions

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many and what proportion of civil servants in his Department are members of the  (a) classic,  (b) classic plus,  (c) nuvos and  (d) premium civil service pension schemes.

Paul Murphy: Information on pension details is provided by the Ministry of Justice payroll services. The split between classic plus and premium cannot be distinguished in all cases.
	Pensions within my Department are split as follows:
	
		
			  Pension scheme  Percentage of staff  Number of employees i n pension s cheme 
			 Classic 63 35 
			 Classic plus and Premium 11 6 
			 Premium 16 9 
			 Nuvos 10 6

Departmental Pensions

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many civil servants working in his Department have pensions with a cash equivalent transfer value of over £1 million.

Paul Murphy: It is not appropriate to disclose pension information for civil servants other than board members, whose details are shown in the Remuneration Report in annual Resource Accounts for the Ministry of Justice.
	A copy of the Resource Accounts for financial year 2007-08 can be found in the Library, or accessed electronically using the following link:
	http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/hc0708/hc08/0869/0869.asp

Departmental Training

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what personal training courses at public expense he has undertaken since his appointment.

Paul Murphy: None.

National Assembly for Wales: Legislative Competence

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the Government's policy is on the inclusion of clauses limiting the scope of the legislative competence of the National Assembly for Wales within draft Orders in Council; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Murphy: Draft Orders in Council presented by the Government to Parliament for approval should set out clearly and unambiguously the scope of legislative competence being conferred on the National Assembly for Wales.
	The scope of such draft Orders is informed by pre-legislative scrutiny of proposals by the Welsh Affairs Committee, the House of Lords Constitution Committee and the National Assembly for Wales.

Plain English

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many documents produced by his Department were submitted to the Plain English Campaign for approval for Crystal Mark status in each year since 2005; and how many documents achieved such status in each year.

Paul Murphy: None.

Plain English

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department has spent on Plain English Campaign training courses in each year since 2005.

Paul Murphy: No expenditure was incurred.

Referendums

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales pursuant to the answer of 16 October 2008,  Official Report, column 1385W, on referendums, what his policy is on the application of section 104 of the Government of Wales Act 2006 to requests received from the Welsh Assembly Government during the present term for a referendum under Part IV of the Government of Wales Act 2006.

Paul Murphy: Section 104 of the Government of Wales Act 2006 would apply to any request made by the Welsh Assembly Government for a referendum.

TRANSPORT

Blue Badge Scheme

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether an impact assessment has been conducted for those proposals in the Blue Badge Reform Strategy relating to local authorities' ability to charge badge application fees; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: The Blue Badge Reform Strategy contains an impact assessment for all of our proposals.
	The application fee has been capped at £2 since 1983 and no longer reflects modern costs and income. We estimate that the average application processing cost is now £14.47 per badge.
	We plan to legislate to enable local authorities to set their own fees, which cover these costs more appropriately. The legislation will protect against any excessive charging.
	Any future charges will be far outweighed by the financial benefits that badge holders receive in being able to park for free across the UK.

Blue Badge Scheme

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what timetable he has set for bringing forward legislative proposals to enact the commitments made in the Blue Badge Reform Strategy to extend the scheme to certain groups hitherto excluded; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: The strategy contains a broad suite of commitments, which will be implemented over the next five years. We are in the process of developing a project implementation plan, which will set out our time line for delivery in full. Our progress in delivering on our commitments will be overseen by a high level steering group comprised of independent representatives from outside of Government.

Departmental Information Officers

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many press and communications officers are employed by  (a) his Department,  (b) its NDPBs and  (c) its agencies.

Geoff Hoon: The most recently compiled press officer and communications staff numbers in the central Department and Executive agencies are set out in the following table. Figures shown are for communications specialists engaged in a range of communications activities including news media (press officers), marketing, publicity, strategic communications, internal communications, e-communications and speechwriting. All figures are average or estimated full-time equivalent (FTE) staff employed.
	
		
			  Staff FTE  2007-08 press officer activities  Estimated communicators February 2008 
			  DfT Central 13.8 57.9 
			 DSA 2 15 
			 DVLA 5 34.3 
			 GCDA 0 1 
			 HA 12.2 24.8 
			 MCA 2 5.5 
			 VCA 0 2.5 
			 VOSA 2 9 
			
			  DfT agencies 23.2 92.1 
		
	
	The DfT(C) figure is only for relevant staff working in the Department's Communication Directorate. DfT(C) also employs other staff who may perform communication roles but numbers for these and NDPBs are not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Official Visits

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was spent on overnight accommodation by his Department's civil servants in the last 12 months.

Geoff Hoon: Figures for overnight subsistence expenditure for the Department and six of its agencies are contained in the following table. The remaining agency, The Government Car and Despatch Agency, is unable to separate accommodation from other costs, and the information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Overnight accommodation, October 2007 to September 2008 
			   £ 
			 DfT(c) 843,622 
			 MCA (1)4,127,000 
			 VOSA 429,000 
			 HA (2)865,835 
			 VCA 88,246 
			 DSA 354,707 
			 DVLA 1,160,000 
			 (1) The figure for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency largely represents costs associated with surveyors performing the agency's statutory function. These costs are reclaimed from customers.  (2) The figure for the Highways Agency is based on accommodation booked through the agency's contracted booking agent, and covers the 11 months October 2007 to August 2008 inclusive, as the September figure is not yet available.

Motor Vehicles: Excise Duty

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department takes to recover vehicle excise duty payments outstanding from the registered keepers of vehicles who do not have an address in the UK; how much was spent on such recovery in the last year for which figures are available; how much was recovered; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 21 October 2008
	DVLA operates a strategy of education, warning and direct enforcement to help tackle non-compliant unlicensed foreign vehicles. Education activities have involved presentations to community leaders, articles in the media, the issue of information leaflets and warning notices placed on vehicle windscreens. Vehicles circulating in breach of the rules are subject to enforcement action including wheel clamping and impounding. Since 2006, nearly 1200 non-compliant foreign vehicles have been subject to direct enforcement action.
	Every year, the overall costs incurred and revenues generated from DVLA's enforcement activities are published in the Agency's Annual Report and Accounts. Activities relating to foreign vehicles are not accounted for separately.
	In terms of offences committed by drivers of foreign registered vehicles, under new provisions in the Road Safety Act 2006 the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency will, in future, be able to issue fixed penalties to offenders as well as prohibiting vehicles and drivers for various offences. In addition, any driver who does not have a satisfactory address in the UK will be required to pay an immediate deposit equivalent to the amount of the fixed penalty—or the level of fine the offence would be likely to attract if prosecuted in court. The police will also be able to require the immediate payment of such deposits.

Motor Vehicles: Registration

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance he has issued on whether replacing the EU flag on a car number plate with a British flag may lead to an MOT failure; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The current MOT Inspection Manual states that a test failure should not result where a registration plate includes a distinguishing sign of the UK, the Union flag, Scottish Saltire, Cross of St. George, Red Dragon and their respective national identifiers.

Parking Offences: Personal Records

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what procedures are in place to ensure that personal details made available to parking enforcement companies may not be accessed by terrorist organisations.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Parking companies may obtain data from the DVLA vehicle record where they have reasonable cause. Legislation providing for reasonable cause disclosure has been in existence for over 40 years, predating the establishment of the DVLA. On application for disclosure, all relevant information must be provided to enable checks to be made to establish the veracity of the applicant and the reasonable cause claimed. If approved, the vehicle keeper's name and address are released together with the make, model and colour of the vehicle. A record is kept on the vehicle register of all such disclosures enabling the applicant to be identified if there are later inquiries.
	The details disclosed are sent directly to the address associated with the company requesting those details—and never disclosed over the phone or to PO box addresses—and there is a programme of audit to ensure that the application, use and disposal of the data are appropriate and legal.

Parking: Disabled

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  when he plans to publish the results of his consultation on Blue Badge reform; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when he plans to publish the Blue Badge Reform Strategy; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: holding answer 21 October 2008
	The results of the consultation were published on 20 October at the same time as our comprehensive £55 million Blue Badge Reform Strategy, which will address issues of fraudulent use and abuse of the scheme, extend eligibility and improve the consistency of application approval.
	Copies of the results to the consultation and strategy can be found on the Department for Transport's website at:
	www.dft.gov.uk

Railway Stations: Milton Keynes

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the original estimate was for the cost of the engineering work and platform upgrade at Milton Keynes Central station.

Paul Clark: holding answer 23 October 2008
	The engineering work and platform upgrade was estimated at £120 million and is expected to be delivered both on budget and on time.

Road Traffic Offences: Animals

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received on the exclusion of cats from the terms of section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 23 October 2008
	 Since 2001 we have received 18 letters on this subject.

Temporary Employment

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which companies have been used by his Department for providing temporary staff in each of the last five years; and what the value of contracts with each such company was in each of those years.

Geoff Hoon: A table showing the information requested has been placed in the Libraries of the House. It provides actual expenditure on temporary staff by company by year.
	The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency could provide the expenditure information only at disproportionate cost.

Trams

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when stage two of the tram trains trials will commence.

Paul Clark: holding answer 23 October 2008
	The trial will occur in two phases. The first phase will test the application on the conventional rail network (Penistone line) and will start in 2010. It will take two years to test the technical and operational feasibility of tram trains.
	There is an option for a second phase to test how the tram train operates between the conventional rail network and a street tram system. This is the subject of more detailed business case work by Network Rail.

Trams

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the decision on the operation of tram trains in England to be made.

Paul Clark: holding answer 23 October 2008
	On 18 March, the then Secretary of State announced the trial of tram-train technology on the Huddersfield-Penistone-Sheffield route (Penistone line). On 29 September, Northern Rail issued an invitation to tender (ITT) for the procurement of trial vehicles for use on the Penistone line. Network Rail is currently undertaking detailed design work for the amendment to the infrastructure.

Transport: Environment Protection

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 16 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 52-4WS, on the EU Transport Council, what proposals on the greening of transport were included in the draft conclusions tabled by the French presidency; and what his policy is on each.

Geoff Hoon: The draft conclusions covered policies in the Commission's "greening of transport" package. The Government have submitted four explanatory memoranda to the Scrutiny Committees describing our position on the package and these are available in the Libraries of both Houses.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agricultural Products

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much  (a) wheat,  (b) barley,  (c) fresh vegetables,  (d) potatoes,  (e) fresh fruit,  (f) beef and veal,  (g) pork,  (h) bacon and ham,  (i) mutton and lamb,  (j) poultry meat,  (k) eggs and  (l) liquid milk was produced by volume in England in each year since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: The figures are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Volume of UK production 
			1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Wheat Th. tonnes 15,018 15,449 14,867 16,704 11,580 15,973 14,288 15,473 14,863 14,735 13,137 
			 Barley Th. tonnes 7,828 6,623 6,581 6,492 6,660 6,128 6,370 5,816 5,495 5,239 5,079 
			 Vegetables Th. tonnes 2,937 2,863 2,952 2,923 2,865 2,573 2,543 2,591 2,737 2,650 2,526 
			 Potatoes Th. tonnes 7,128 6,422 7,131 6,178 6,674 6,921 6,058 6,246 5,979 5,727 5,635 
			 Fruit Th. tonnes 292 278 347 307 331 294 269 294 363 392 398 
			 Beef and Veal Th. tonnes 698 695 679 704 645 694 703 724 765 852 888 
			 Pork Th. tonnes 884 921 823 716 595 614 569 577 574 575 617 
			 Bacon and Ham Th. tonnes 242 240 243 224 217 216 214 211 214 209 185 
			 Mutton and Lamb Th. tonnes 342 373 392 383 267 307 310 319 336 332 328 
			 Poultry meat Th. tonnes 1,527 1,548 1,549 1,514 1,566 1,557 1,578 1,571 1,585 1,517 1,460 
			 Eggs Million dozen 903 883 842 817 861 856 843 892 884 853 825 
			 Milk Million litres 14,420 14,218 14,587 14,079 14,291 14,448 14,587 14,139 14,062 13,933 13,660 
			  Source: Agriculture in the United Kingdom 2007, DEFRA

Agriculture: Land

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the likely effect of implementation of his Department's proposal to require arable farmers to set aside up to 5 per cent. of their land on food security in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 23 October 2008
	The impact on food production—and therefore food security—of the proposal for arable farmers to set aside a small percentage (as yet undefined) of their land for environmental purposes is expected to be very small, given that such land is likely to be located on farmers' least productive land.
	The Government support the abolition of set-aside but the Secretary of State recognised the potential environmental impacts by commissioning additional environmental monitoring and asking Sir Don Curry to bring together key stakeholders to oversee this work and investigate mitigation options.
	Sir Don Curry's High Level Set-Aside Group reported in July 2008 and the Secretary of State agreed that measures were needed as soon as practicable to mitigate the environmental impact of set-aside loss. The Secretary of State issued a statement on the next steps on 25 July, which included commissioning the Rural Payments Agency and Natural England to work up, by the end of the year, how the preferred option could be delivered in practice.
	Final decisions on the overall approach, and the detailed arrangements which will determine the impacts, for example, on farming or the environment, will need to be taken in the context of the eventual outcome of the Common Agricultural Policy Health Check. The House will be kept informed of progress.

Agriculture: Manpower

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the availability of agricultural and horticultural labour in the UK; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the fruit and vegetable crop on the availability of agricultural and horticultural labour.

Huw Irranca-Davies: When the new member states acceded to the EU in 2004, the Government decided to allow A8 nationals to take up work freely in the UK subject to registering with the Workers Registration Scheme. Information collected via the scheme records show that by June 2008, some 85,000 accession nationals had registered to take up work in the agricultural sector. Of these, around 6,400 were specifically registered to work as fruit pickers, and 12,900 as crop harvesters.
	In addition, the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) provides an assured annual quota of 16,250 workers from the A2 countries, and is an important source of seasonal labour for farmers and growers, particularly at periods of peak activity. Given the importance the industry attaches to SAWS, Government agreed not to phase out the scheme until 2010 in order to give the industry time to adapt to a labour market expanded by nationals from the new member states.
	SAWS is administered by the UK Borders Agency. DEFRA Ministers continue to remain in regular contact with their colleagues at the Home Office about the operation of the scheme. In March of this year, the hon. Member for Chatham and Aylesford (Jonathan Shaw) and the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Hodge Hill (Mr. Byrne) met representatives of the National Farmers Union (NFU) and SAWS operators to listen to their concerns about the current level of quota and changes made to the scheme as a result of the accession to the EU of Romania and Bulgaria. This meeting concluded with a commitment to maintain a dialogue between Government and the industry on this matter, and this is ongoing.
	In March 2007, the Government set up the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to provide independent, transparent and evidence-based advice on where labour market shortages exist which can sensibly be filled by migration. MAC underpins the new points-based system for migration to the UK by advising Government on which occupations should be designated as shortage occupations. Tier 3 of the PBS provides a potential route for low-skilled workers from outside the EU to take up work in the UK but is suspended for the foreseeable future, while restrictions remain in place for A2 nationals.
	However, immigration is not the only tool available for tackling the problem of labour shortages. The industry also needs to be prepared to consider the scope for technological innovation, and to examine the conditions and prospects available for those working in agriculture. This will enable the industry to compete more effectively in the job market and to re-integrate the domestic labour force.
	I am aware of the concerns expressed by some farmers and growers about seasonal labour shortages and the impact these are having on the cultivation and harvesting of fruit and vegetable crops, and we are in regular contact with the Home Office on this and other matters.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been distributed by Yorkshire Forward under agricultural schemes in each of the last three years.

Jane Kennedy: The principal agricultural scheme managed by Yorkshire Forward is the social and economic elements of the Rural Development Programme for England (although this also benefits non-agricultural businesses operating in rural areas). Yorkshire Forward only assumed responsibility for this funding from October 2006. Before this, it was the responsibility of the Rural Development Service, part of DEFRA.
	The total spend under the RDPE and the predecessor rural development programme by Yorkshire Forward since it assumed responsibility is:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 16 October 2006 to 15 October 2007 1.76 
			 16 October 2007 to 15 October 2008 1.08 
		
	
	The total RDPE budget allocated to Yorkshire Forward in 2008-09 is £9.89 million.
	In addition, Yorkshire Forward has supported agricultural businesses through its single programme budget. The spend on specific agricultural projects over the last three financial years is:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2005-06 240,200 
			 2006-07 1,071,700 
			 2007-08 654,800 
		
	
	In addition, agricultural businesses may also have received support through some small ad hoc projects, as well as through mainstream support services, for which it is difficult to obtain separate figures for agriculture.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is on badger culling as it relates to the control of bovine tuberculosis.

Jane Kennedy: In a statement to the House on 7 July 2008,  Official Report, columns 1153-55, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State (Hilary Benn) announced the Government's policy that no licences will be issued for culling badgers to prevent the spread of bovine tuberculosis (TB) in cattle. We remain open to the possibility of revisiting this policy under exceptional circumstances, or if new scientific evidence were to become available.
	We are strengthening our programme of research to develop cattle and badger vaccines and plan for their deployment. Cattle-based TB control measures continue to be critical.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contingency plans his Department has in the event that cases of bovine tuberculosis spread across the UK.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 23 October 2008
	 We aim to slow down and prevent the geographic spread of bovine TB to low incidence areas through a comprehensive and risk-based control programme. This includes a surveillance programme of routine testing for all cattle herds and compulsory pre-movement testing of cattle from high-risk herds.
	In the event of the disease spreading to new areas across the country we implement measures to try to root out the disease and prevent it from becoming established. In all cases where TB is identified, the herd is placed under movement restrictions until all the eligible cattle in it have cleared two further short interval tests. In addition, in the low incidence areas of the country we use the more sensitive gamma interferon blood test alongside the skin test to identify as many infected cattle as possible at the earliest opportunity and try to clear out infection in the herd quickly.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Vaccination

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department has spent on research on a bovine tuberculosis vaccine in each of the last three years.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 23 October 2008
	DEFRA has spent the following amounts on bovine TB vaccine research over last three years:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2005-06 1,990,418 
			 2006-07 4,957,539 
			 2007-08 5,561,752 
			 Total 12,509,709 
		
	
	Of the total, this works out at around £6.7 million on cattle vaccines and £5.8 million on badger vaccines.

Cats: Tuberculosis

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department has taken to identify whether bovine tuberculosis is carried by cats.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 23 October 2008
	All mammals including cats are susceptible to the disease to a variable degree; cats can contract and carry the causative bacteria (M. Bovis) if they come into close contact with a source of infection.
	DEFRA has been funding passive TB surveillance in domestic and zoo animal species for several years. This consists of a free post mortem and culture service for suspect cases of TB provided by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency.
	In addition, since February 2006, the identification of M. bovis in tissues and clinical samples from farmed and companion animals, including cats, became notifiable to the Divisional Veterinary Manager of Animal Health.

Costs

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was claimed in expenses by Ministers in his Department in each of the last three years.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, all DEFRA Ministers are bound and abide by the provisions set out in the Ministerial Code.

Dangerous Dogs Act 1991: Prosecutions

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people were prosecuted for offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in 2007.

Jane Kennedy: Court proceedings data held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform for 2007 will not be available until the end of November 2008.

Departmental Buildings

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans his Department has for the future use of the office building at 1A Page street; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Following the re-organisation of departmental accommodation in 2007-08, the office premises at 1A Page street became surplus to operational requirements in March 2008. The Department has been actively seeking to dispose of its property interest both across Government and via exposure to the commercial property market. Current market conditions are challenging and we continue to explore every avenue to secure a disposal of this surplus accommodation.

Departmental Security

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many security passes have been reported  (a) lost and  (b) stolen by staff in (i) his Department and (ii) agencies sponsored by his Department in each year since 2001.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The following table shows lost and stolen passes from core DEFRA and its agencies from 2001 until 1 October 2008.
	
		
			   Lost  Stolen 
			  DEFRA Core Department   
			 2001 60 5 
			 2002 108 16 
			 2003 108 12 
			 2004 152 18 
			 2005 147 11 
			 2006 138 13 
			 2007 149 13 
			 2008 106 7 
			
			  Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science   
			 2001 n/a n/a 
			 2002 10 0 
			 2003 16 1 
			 2004 20 1 
			 2005 20 2 
			 2006 7 0 
			 2007 8 0 
			 2008 6 0 
			
			  Central Science Laboratory   
			 2001 12 0 
			 2002 14 0 
			 2003 11 0 
			 2004 15 0 
			 2005 8 2 
			 2006 5 1 
			 2007 7 0 
			 2008 7 0 
			
			  Veterinary Medicines Directorate   
			 2001 6 0 
			 2002 9 0 
			 2003 10 0 
			 2004 6 0 
			 2005 10 0 
			 2006 12 0 
			 2007 9 0 
			 2008 6 0 
			
			  Veterinary Laboratories Agency   
			 2001 5 0 
			 2002 8 1 
			 2003 6 0 
			 2004 7 0 
			 2005 28 4 
			 2006 11 0 
			 2007 n/a n/a 
			 2008 29 0 
			
			  Rural Payments Agency   
			 2001 5 0 
			 2002 23 1 
			 2003 24 2 
			 2004 19 2 
			 2005 9 0 
			 2006 40 4 
			 2007 53 8 
			 2008 74 5 
		
	
	Losses and thefts relating to passes issued to the Marine Fisheries Agency, the Government Decontamination Service and Pesticides Safety Directorate are included in the figures for DEFRA core Department. Data for lost/stolen passes for Veterinary Laboratories Agency are not available for 2007 due to a change in responsibility of pass production. Figures do not include Animal Health as information is not available. All electronic passes reported as lost or stolen are cancelled immediately on access control systems making them invalid. Losses of paper escorted and unescorted visitor passes (which are not able to activate access control points) are rare and are not recorded.

Dogs

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the policy of the Forestry Commission is on dog-free car parks; and which car parks are being considered for designation as dog-free.

Huw Irranca-Davies: holding answer 23 October 2008
	In association with the Kennel Club, the Forestry Commission published its guide, Managing Dogs in the Wood, in March 2007. This advocates the promotion of car parks that are attractive and well suited to dog walkers in order to reduce the potential for conflict with other interests. The Forestry Commission has no plans to designate car parks as dog-free but access to some other areas by dogs is actively discouraged, for example in children's play areas.

Dogs: Food

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research his Department has commissioned into commercial relationships between members of the veterinary profession and commercial dog food producers.

Jane Kennedy: DEFRA has carried out no such research.

Environment Protection: New Forest

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 16 October 2008,  Official Report, column 1487W, on environment protection: New Forest, if he will place in the Library copies of the publications referred to.

Huw Irranca-Davies: holding answer 23 October 2008
	The New Forest National Park Authority has been asked to provide copies of the publications referred to. These will be placed in the Library as soon as they have been received.

Environment Protection: Seas and Oceans

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the provisions in Article 9 of Council Regulation 2371/2002 on the provisions in the Marine Bill; what recent discussions he has had with  (a) the European Commission and  (b) his European counterparts on the establishment of measures to protect the marine environment beyond the six nautical mile limit; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: There have been no recent discussions between DEFRA and the European Commission, or my European counterparts, on the likely impact of article 9 of Council Regulation 2371/2002 on the Marine Bill, or the establishment of measures under article 9 for the protection of the marine environment beyond six nautical miles.
	The legislative framework for the common fisheries policy (CFP) is due to be reviewed in 2012. However, the Commission is required to present a report on access arrangements to the Council and Parliament by the end of 2011. Subsequently, the Council will decide what provisions will apply thereafter. DEFRA will engage fully in this process to ensure that UK rights are not jeopardised, and that effective conservation measures are applied where needed.
	In advance of the report, where we wish to protect a marine conservation zone in an area where foreign vessels have access, we will look to do so through the CFP to ensure the equal application of measures to all vessels.

Fisheries

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2008,  Official Report, column 2021W, on fisheries, when he expects to formulate and announce UK policy in relation to the future of the 0-12 nautical mile zone under Article 17 of Council Regulation 2371/2002; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: We will be seeking views from interested parties on possible improvements to the common fisheries policy, including the issue of access to member states waters—in order to influence Commission thinking at an early stage—and will consider our position in the light of responses.
	Further information will be available shortly in the 'Fishing Focus' newsletter on the DEFRA website.

Fisheries: Navy

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what dates there have been no River Class offshore patrol vessels operating as part of the Fishery Protection Squadron since April; why there were no River Class offshore patrol vessels operating on each such date; what alternative provision was made available; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The information is as follows:
	21 July: HMS Severn suffered two breakdowns of its sea-boats in a 24-hour period on 20 July which resulted in the vessel having to anchor and await repairs/replacements by Vosper Thorneycroft. HMS Tyne was at stand-off on 20/21 July, between patrols. No alternative provision was required.
	30 and 31 August: HMS Mersey was programmed to be on patrol on those days with a stand-off on 2 and 3 September. However, the stand-off dates for HMS Mersey were brought forward to 30 and 31 August so that it could participate fully in the Joint Deployment Plan for Cod in the North Sea, which commenced on 1 September. HMS Tyne was at stand-off on 30/31 August between patrols. No alternative provision was required.
	On each of these occasions, the third River Class vessel was not programmed for duty, was not available and was not required.

Fisheries: Quotas

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to introduce quota management reforms; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Examining how best to reform the quota management system is a priority for me, and I am currently considering options to take this work forward. This work will be done in close partnership with the devolved Administrations and in consultation with the industry. It will also need to be considered in the context of the common fisheries policy reform agenda.

Flood Control

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many flood protection schemes have been  (a) postponed and  (b) delayed in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 17 September 2008
	DEFRA has overall policy responsibility for flood risk management and provides funding for schemes to Operating Authorities (Environment Agency, local authorities and Internal Drainage Boards). The funding for flood risk has been administered by the Environment Agency since April 2006. Information on potential projects is collected from operating authorities and the Environment Agency decide which projects to promote and their timing to meet the targets set by DEFRA. Since the projects are not formally approved until funding is confirmed none will have been postponed or have had their commencement delayed.
	Some projects do, however, take longer to deliver than is originally envisaged. From 2004-08 the Environment Agency's National Capital Programme Management Service was responsible for a total of 146 completed projects. Of these, 83 were completed early or on time and 63 were completed after the expected date. 70 per cent. of these projects were delivered within two months of the expected completion date.

Flood Control

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what priorities he has set for reducing flood risk in  (a) urban and rural areas.

Jane Kennedy: The Environment Agency allocates funding to Regional Flood Defence Committees for both new capital schemes and to maintain existing defences on the basis of national priorities to ensure that the funding is spent to optimum effect. This inevitably means that the allocation to each Regional Flood Defence Committee is likely to change year on year, particularly as capital schemes are completed.
	Projects in sparsely populated areas will tend to score less highly than projects which protect larger numbers of people or higher asset values for a given cost.
	DEFRA is working with the Environment Agency, other operating authorities and stakeholders to develop a prioritisation process for the capital programme. There will be no explicit geographic element to the allocation of funds which will be done to maximise the benefit achieved from the programme on a national basis. Allocation of funds for maintenance works is undertaken by the Environment Agency on the basis of their asset management strategy which takes account of risk; again there is no geographic element.

Flood Control: Cost Effectiveness

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what outcome measures are used to assess the effectiveness of expenditure on flood risk management measures; what criteria relating to outcomes for  (a) the economy,  (b) commerce and  (c) industry are included in these measures; and what his policy is on the inclusion of flood security as an outcome measure.

Jane Kennedy: A set of nine outcome measures for flood and coastal erosion risk was published, following public consultation, in June 2007. The measures are described on the DEFRA website and the first measure, overall benefits, will include monetary estimates of the benefits to the national economy, with the expectation that in time the costs and benefits for different sectors will be identified separately. The term "flood security" is ambiguous, but a review of the outcome measures is under way and this will include consideration of alternative and additional measures.

Flood Control: Finance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which flood defences have been improved in 2008; and how much each improvement cost.

Jane Kennedy: In 2007-08 the Environment Agency reported that 31,505 houses received reduced flood risk in England from capital investment in 38 projects which are in the following list. Information on improvement cost in each case is not available.
	
		
			  Environment Agency Region  Capital investment 
			 Anglian Southwold - Easton Bavents 
			 Anglian Broadland Private Public Partnership Programme Contract 
			 Anglian Lincolnshire 2005 to 2010 
			 Anglian Tidal Nene Stabilisation 
			 Midlands West Bridgford 
			 North East Selby Tidal Defences 
			 North East Stoning - Tidal (Dales) 
			 North East Cockshaw Burn at Hexam 
			 North West River Eden/Pettril Flood Defences, Carlisle 
			 North West Lower Lancaster Flood Alleviation Scheme 
			 North West Thornton-Cleveleys 
			 Southern Lymington River Flood Alleviation Scheme 
			 Southern Pett Shingle Nourishment Phase 2-6 
			 Southern River Rother Tidal Walls Imp Scheme (West) 
			 Southern High Knocke To Dymchurch Redoubt SD Phases 1 and 2 
			 Southern Seaford Bulk Shingle Recycling 
			 Southern East Suttons to Denge Interim Beach Management 2007-08 
			 Southern Pevensey Bay: Eastbourne to Cooden Sea Defences Public Private Partnership 
			 South West Boscastle - Valency, Phase 3 
			 South West Padstow Harbour 
			 South West Sutton Harbour (Shoreline Management Plan 2) 
			 Thames Berkshire and Dagenham Front Marley Waterproofing 1 
			 Thames Berkshire and Dagenham R39.02 Marley Waterproofing 2 
			 Thames Dartford Creek Frontage - Repairs 
			 Thames Shift and Lock Mechanism 
			 Thames Thames Barrier; Programmed Replacements Corrosion Protection Systems 
			 Thames East Clandon Stream at Send 
			 Thames Leys Flood Defence Wall Repair and Bank Stabilisation 
			 Thames High Wycombe Trash Screen 
			 Thames Thames Barrier and Associated Gates TB Logic Control Systems 
			 Thames TB: RSG 100 year life 
			 Thames Thames Barrier and Associated Gates TB Pier Crane Modernisation 
			 Thames Thames Barrier and Associated Gates TB Replacement Tools and Equipment 
			 Thames Improved Communications Links to Thames Barrier and Associated Gates 
			 Thames Associated Gates Corrosion Protection System 
			 Thames Rainham Main Sluice Frontage 
			 Thames Queenhithe Wharf Frontage 
			 Thames Folly, Felstead, Coldharbour, Sufference, Waterways Frontages

Food Supplies

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 29 September 2008,  Official Report, column 2419W, on food, what estimate he has made of the level of UK self-sufficiency in  (a) milk and other dairy products and  (b) each type of fish in each year since 1997.

Jane Kennedy: Figures on the level of UK self-sufficiency in  (a) milk and other dairy products and  (b) fish in each year since 1997. Figures are only readily available for fish in total.
	
		
			  UK production (in weight or volume) as a percentage of total new supply for use in the UK 
			   Liquid milk  Butter  Cheese  Cream -fresh, frozen, sterilized  Condensed milk  Milk powders  Fish( 1) 
			 1997 99 78 67 154 130 350 74 
			 1998 99 77 65 163 136 393 77 
			 1999 100 74 63 157 127 207 70 
			 2000 100 65 63 146 111 330 70 
			 2001 100 63 66 128 105 219 65 
			 2002 100 65 65 133 112 298 66 
			 2003 100 63 61 144 101 332 74 
			 2004 100 58 60 126 96 211 70 
			 2005 100 59 60 125 83 112 65 
			 2006 100 52 59 121 74 152 54 
			 2007(2) 100 61 55 114 76 167 64 
			 (1) Landings are given in terms of landed weight equivalent (i.e. head on, gutted for most species). Landings include transhipments of mackerel and exclude salmon and trout. Excludes fish products. (2) Provisional.  Source:  DEFRA HMRC, MFA.

Food Supplies

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government are taking to increase national self-sufficiency in food production.

Jane Kennedy: The UK is currently 60 per cent. self-sufficient in all foods, and over 74 per cent. self-sufficient in foods that can be produced in this country.
	In July, the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit published a study entitled "Food Matters: Towards a Strategy for the 21st Century", which identified a number of areas of food policy requiring further examination by the Government. DEFRA is taking forward the report's recommendation on the need for a sustainable vision to guide future food policy in conjunction with the Department of Health and the Food Standards Agency.
	The Government are also consulting on their discussion document, "Ensuring the UK's Food Security in a Changing World", to ensure that all of our food supply chains, from whatever source, are resilient and robust in the face of challenges to our food security in the future.

Food: Imports

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government are taking to ensure that imported food meets the  (a) quality,  (b) hygiene,  (c) safety and  (d) animal welfare standards required from food producers in England.

Jane Kennedy: Imports of products of animal origin from countries outside the EU must be checked at approved border inspection posts (BIPs), where they undergo veterinary checks before they are allowed to enter the EU.
	Such products can only be imported from countries which are on the approved third country import list for that product. The products must be from establishments approved to export to the EU.
	The European Commission's Food and Veterinary Office is responsible for carrying out inspections of countries and the establishments that are approved to export to the EU, to ensure that they comply with EU hygiene requirements.
	The World Trade Organisation rules do not allow us to ban imports on the grounds of the welfare standards applying in third countries.

Fruit: Schools

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the EU proposals for free fruit provision in schools; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 14 October 2008
	On 8 July 2008 the European Commission published a proposal providing for the introduction of a voluntary EU-wide school fruit scheme for the supply into schools of fruit (including bananas) and vegetables. The proposals are principally for the provision of €90 million of European funds for the purchase of the fruit and vegetables themselves, allocated to member states on the basis of their population of school children aged between six and 10 years. A member state which chose to take part in the scheme would be required to provide co-finance and to submit a national strategy. EC funding cannot be used to replace existing national funding.
	The proposals for the scheme are currently being finalised in Brussels, with the intention that an agreement should be reached by the end of this year. As the proposals develop, they are being assessed and considered by officials and Ministers across Government and also with the devolved Administrations and external stakeholders.

Madders Report

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he plans to take in response to the Madders Report on animal movements.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 17 October 2008
	 The following Madders recommendations have been implemented:
	abolition of temporary calf passport
	the issue of cattle passports to late applicants, where parentage of the calf can be proved by DNA testing
	revised guidance issued to ensure that cattle arriving at an abattoir with a valid passport with one correct ear tag (and evidence that a second tag had been applied) are accepted as properly identified.
	British Cattle Movement Service have written to ear tag manufacturers seeking assurance that standards have been maintained.
	Bill Madders (and Iain Anderson in the review and lessons learned exercise following the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 2007) recommended changes to the way in which DEFRA records the locations to and from which livestock are moved. Work is currently under way to establish the most effective means of doing this. I expect a consultation exercise to follow the conclusion of this work.
	Madders also recommended greater use of isolation facilities to allow farmers more flexibility to avoid standstills imposed by movements of livestock on to their holdings. I have accepted this recommendation and expect to consult on implementing it in due course.

Pollution: Digswell

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will arrange for the Environment Agency to test the pumping station at Digswell in Hertfordshire for bromate contamination.

Jane Kennedy: The Digswell pumping station is a water supply borehole operated by Three Valleys Water plc. The Environment Agency will co-operate with Three Valleys Water plc to take samples of both raw (before treatment) and treated (as put into public supply) water from the borehole.

Powers of Entry

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many powers of entry have been  (a) introduced and  (b) abolished by legislation by his Department since 1997.

Huw Irranca-Davies: I refer the right hon. and learned Member to the reply given to him on 22 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 451-52W.

Recycling: East Sussex

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much waste was recycled by each local authority in East Sussex in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: The following table shows the amount of household waste sent to be recycled or composted by each authority in East Sussex county council in financial years 2006-07 and 2007-08.
	
		
			  Household waste sent for recycling and composting 
			  T onnes 
			  Authority  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Wealden District Council 19,253 20,424 
			 Rother District Council 5,829 9,395 
			 Lewes District Council 7,274 8,040 
			 Hastings Borough Council 5,789 7,352 
			 Eastbourne Borough Council 8,196 9,200 
			 East Sussex County Council 75,315 83,246 
			  Source: WasteDataFlow, Best Value Performance Indicators

Rights of Way

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what functions the National Rights of Way Casework Team had at its establishment; what additional functions it has been given since its establishment; and how many people have been assigned to the team in respect of these additional functions.

Huw Irranca-Davies: holding answer 23 October 2008
	The functions undertaken by the National Rights of Way Casework Team from its establishment, and still to date, are direction requests (representations) and Schedule 14 Appeals, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and Orders which the Secretary of State may decide to make under Section 247 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 for stopping up or diversion of rights of way in relation to proposed planning development.
	There are no additional people assigned to the functions of the Rights of Way team, although one person who is engaged part time in this work is also engaged in other national transport casework which is now undertaken by the Government office for the north east.

Waste Disposal: Schools

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many schools have registered exempt low risk waste operations; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The Environment Agency currently has 913 schools registered for exempt waste activities. Of these, 460 are for the storage of recyclables and 302 are for composting.

Waste Management

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the timetable for creation of regional waste strategy boards is; what their budgets are; what their powers are; how their membership will be comprised; and how many have been established to date.

Jane Kennedy: There is no statutory requirement for regional waste boards, no funding allocated for them, and no timetable for their formation.
	A statutory board has been established in London. The Government have set out its membership and constitution in the London Waste and Recycling Board Order 2008. This legislation does not apply to any other English region.
	There are no other boards established at present. However, the south east and the north east are considering how they might set up structures to provide strategic overview of waste material use and recovery, and what resources may be required to achieve them. These would be purely advisory and have no statutory powers.

Water: Low Incomes

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government have taken to assist low income families with the costs of sewage and water pipe repairs.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 21 October 2008
	There is no specific assistance available to low income families towards the costs of sewage or water pipe repairs. All water companies do however offer some degree of free or subsidised repair and replacement for domestic customers' water supply pipes. This is undertaken as a leakage control measure as part of the water companies' statutory duty to promote the efficient use of water by their customers. The exact nature of the repair policy and any restrictions to that policy are dependent on the water company and its operating conditions.

Weedkillers

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what date  (a) his Department and  (b) the Advisory Committee on Pesticides was first informed by the manufacturers that the hormone-based weed killer aminopyralid or similar chemical formulations were capable of surviving ingestion by horses or cows, and being composted in manure, and then having adverse effects on crops treated with the manure.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The properties of the group of herbicides to which aminopyralid belongs—pyridine carboxylic acids—have long been recognised. As a result of this, when the Advisory Committee on Pesticides considered the evaluation of aminopyralid in 2005 it concluded that products containing it should carry warnings on their labels that manure that could contain aminopyralid should not be used on susceptible crops, or on land intended for growing such crops, until all plant material had fully decomposed.

Weedkillers

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what date members of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides were first informed that aminopyralid or similar chemical formulations had been found to cause adverse effects outside the United Kingdom on crops when manure made from animal waste from animals that had grazed pasture treated with these chemicals was spread on land growing such crops.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The potential of aminopyralid and other pyridine carboxylic acid herbicides to produce the effects observed were taken into account when the Advisory Committee on Pesticides considered this pesticide in 2005. That this group of chemicals can produce these effects has been known since at least the 1980s.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he will answer question  (a) 224594,  (b) 224593,  (c) 224886,  (d) 224812,  (e) 224627,  (f) 224808,  (g) 225455,  (h) 225510,  (i) 223902,  (j) 224809,  (k) 223900,  (l) 224810,  (m) 223893,  (n) 223899,  (o) 223901,  (p) 224196 and  (q) 224595.

Huw Irranca-Davies: I can confirm the following:
	 (a) 224594 question withdrawn without notice
	 (b) 224593 answered 20 October
	 (c) 224886 answered 13 October
	 (d) 224812 answered 13 October
	 (e) 224627 answered 13 October
	 (f) 224808 answered 14 October
	 (g) 225455 answered 14 October
	 (h) 225510 answered 14 October
	 (i) 223902 answered 9 October
	 (j) 224809 answered 13 October
	 (k) 223900 answered transferred to Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) answered 20 October
	 (l) 224810 answered 14 October
	 (m) 223893 should read 223898 transferred to Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and answered on 14 October
	 (n) 223899 transferred to Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC)
	 (o) 223901 transferred to Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) answered 20 October
	 (p) 224196 answered 9 October
	 (q) 224595 answered 13 October

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which districts of Helmand Province are deemed to be  (a) under UK, ISAF and NATO forces or the Afghan Government control,  (b) under Taliban control and  (c) in indeterminate control; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: holding answer 21 October 2008
	International Security Assistance Force, the Afghan National Security Forces and the Government of Afghanistan have established a security presence in the districts of Lashkar Gar, Nahr-e Saraj (Gereshk), Musa Qal'ah, Sangin, Garmsir, Kajaki, Nawah-ye Barakzai and Nad Ali. Operations against the Taliban in Helmand continue, with the purpose of bringing more of the province under the control of the Afghan Government.
	However, the insurgents continue to pose a threat through improvised explosive devices, suicide bombers and opportunistic attacks.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of casualties of  (a) insurgents and  (b) civilians in Helmand Province in Afghanistan in 2007-08.

John Hutton: We do not routinely collate data on the number of insurgents killed by UK forces in Afghanistan. Collecting and verifying data is extremely difficult given the nature of the conflict. As we have said repeatedly, our long-term strategy towards defeating the insurgency in Afghanistan is through a wide range of military and non-military activity and not through an attritional, purely military campaign.
	We regret incidents where civilians are accidentally killed as a result of actions by international forces. Procedures are in place, and being constantly updated in the light of experience, both to minimise the risk of these casualties occurring and to investigate any incidents that do happen. Wherever possible, local populations are warned of impending operations. We should remember the insurgents are the real threat to the safety and security of the Afghan people by their indiscriminate use of violence. ISAF forces are not present on a permanent basis in many parts of Helmand province, which makes it difficult to monitor atrocities against the civilian population by the Taliban. It is therefore impossible to estimate with any confidence the number of civilian casualties in Helmand province in 2007-08 that have been caused by the current conflict.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received of recent comments by President Zardari about the position of the Taliban in the conflict in Afghanistan; what assessment he has made of those comments; and whether he has responded to them.

John Hutton: Since the welcome return of a democratically elected Government in Pakistan, the Government have maintained close contact with President Zardari, his Cabinet and senior officers in the Pakistan military. International co-operation is central to our efforts in the region and I welcome the Government of Pakistan's commitment to countering terrorism as a top priority. While I cannot discuss specific comments that President Zardari has made recently, we continually emphasise the important role that a stable and democratic Pakistan has to play in delivering success in Afghanistan and that both our and Pakistan's interests are placed in jeopardy by Taliban operating from within its borders.

Armed Forces: Conditions of Employment

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent steps the Government have taken to uphold the military covenant.

Kevan Jones: The Government are fully committed to meeting their responsibilities for serving personnel, veterans and their families. This includes a long-standing programme of improvements covering, for example, service pay, accommodation, health and welfare provision, force protection and personal equipment. This was reinforced in July 2008 when we published the Service Personnel Command Paper. The paper sets out our commitment to a package of over 40 measures in the fields of education and skills, childcare provision, benefits, career building, support for our Foreign and Commonwealth Service personnel and a doubling of the lump sum payments for the most serious injuries under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. It also outlines further improvements we have made recently in health, housing and support for bereaved families. This is the first cross-Government strategy for service personnel and it sets the standard for the level and scope of support that they, their families and veterans can expect.
	We recognise that there is a wider national responsibility for supporting our armed forces and the independent Report of Inquiry into National Recognition of our Armed Forces published in May sets out a number of recommendations to encourage both wider public support for the armed forces and recognition of their contribution to the nation; the Government have made clear their broad support for the recommendations of this report and will publish their detailed response shortly.
	Service chiefs have confirmed that the military covenant is not broken.

Armed Forces: Diabetes

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether  (a) the Army,  (b) the Royal Navy and  (c) the Royal Air Force have policies in place to prevent discrimination against personnel with diabetes on the basis of their condition.

Kevan Jones: The armed forces' policies are intended to protect sufferers of diabetes from military circumstances which may adversely impact upon their condition and to ensure the effectiveness of the armed forces. For example, a diabetic individual deployed on operations may experience difficulties in monitoring blood or urinary glucose levels; accessing medication; taking regular meals; maintaining a regular sleep pattern; accessing shared-care diabetic clinics; and accessing specialist services such as ophthalmology or chiropody. Such circumstances would adversely impact upon their diabetic control, thus increasing their risk of micro and macrovascular complications. Furthermore, an uncontrolled diabetic may constitute a risk not only to themselves, but also to others in a military or operational context. The single services manage individuals who develop diabetes during their service careers, according to their specific operational requirements and each case will be considered on an individual basis.

Armed Forces: Health Services

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the defence casualty welfare package includes; and how much the daily payment towards meeting expenses incurred for the use of  (a) television,  (b) internet and  (c) telephone at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine at Selly Oak is.

Kevan Jones: There is a range of existing support for patients that includes both direct financial and indirect financial elements; the drawing together of these elements is informally called the casualty welfare package.
	The financial allowances that military patients receive are dependent on their individual circumstances. All patients hospitalised for one or more nights receive incidental expenses (£5 per 24-hour period) and those hospitalised for periods of 10 days or more receive longer separation allowance (ranging from £6.38 to £26.94 per day). Operational casualties hospitalised after starting to receive the operational allowance will continue to receive the allowance for the duration of their planned deployment (£13.08 per day).

Armed Forces: Helicopters

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many days on average an RAF helicopter was  (a) on operations,  (b) engaged in non-operational flying,  (c) available but not flown,  (d) in scheduled maintenance,  (e) undergoing other repair activity,  (f) undergoing unscheduled maintenance,  (g) awaiting spares and  (h) not worked in each of the last three years, broken down by type of helicopter.

Quentin Davies: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Housing

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many units of  (a) single living and  (b) service family accommodation in the UK were occupied at the latest date for which figures are available.

Kevan Jones: In the UK, in excess of 80,000 single living accommodation bed-spaces and 40,000 service family accommodation properties are currently occupied.

Armed Forces: Manpower

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many pinch point trades there were in each service in each year since 2003.

Bob Ainsworth: The inclusion of a trade on the pinch point register is subjective. There are a variety of factors, not of all which reflect a manning shortfall that will determine the inclusion of a trade. Single services review their list quarterly. Recent improvements in the analysis of problem trades has narrowed the focus on trades to specific rank ranges or has sub-divided a trade in order to better focus resources at the problem. This has led in part to the gradual rise in the number of pinch points. For example Merlin Aircrew has now been sub-divided into Merlin pilots, Observers and Aircrewman. By narrowing the focus into rank areas such as Infantry Pte-LCpl resources are better focused and the impact more apparent.
	
		
			   RN  Army  RAF 
			 2003-04 10 26 19 
			 2004-05 12 25 23 
			 2005-06 12 24 21 
			 2006-07 11 27 14 
			 2007-08 20 30 25

Armed Forces: Pensions

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was paid  (a) by (i) employees and (ii) employers into and  (b) to those receiving pensions payments from the armed forces pension scheme in each of the last five years.

Kevan Jones: The armed forces pension scheme (AFPS) is a non-contributory scheme. When pensions become payable the cost is met from Government revenues at that time. There is no pension fund or deficit. Income from employers' contributions is used to offset the costs of paying benefits to pensioners each financial year. Minimal income is received from armed forces personnel who opt to make additional voluntary contributions (AVCs) or to purchase added years.
	The amounts contributed and paid under the AFPS for financial years 2002-03 to 2006-07 are set out in the following table:
	
		
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Employer contributions  (£ billion) 1.146 1.224 1.246 1.404 1.420 
			 Employee contributions from AVCs/purchase of added years  (£ million) 1.328 1.612 1.669 0.657 0.594 
			 Pensions in payment  (£ billion) 2.440 2.517 2.664 2.846 3.009 
			  Note:  The AFPS Resource Accounts for financial year 2007-08 have yet to be finalised and published.

Armed Forces: Pensions

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the annual change in the cost to the public purse of the 2006 changes to the armed forces pension scheme; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what methods he has considered for reducing public sector pension liabilities in relation to the armed forces pension scheme;
	(3)  what the projected savings are of the armed forces pension scheme 2005 changes in relation to public sector pensions for members of the armed forces.

Kevan Jones: For the armed forces pension scheme 1975, the 2006 change constituted the introduction from 6 April 2006 of a preserved pension age of 65 for future service. The preserved pension age for service before that date is 60.
	The armed forces pension scheme 2005, which was introduced for new entrants on 6 April 2005, was designed with a preserved pension age of 65. In addition further savings were realised by the overall scheme design. For example, removing the immediate pension for those leaving before the age of 55 and replacing it with early departure payment (EDP) scheme benefits for those who serve until at least age 40 and have at least 18 years service. EDP income, which is paid until the preserved pension comes into payment at age 65, is paid at a significant lower level that would have been the case if the pension had become due on leaving the armed forces.
	The adoption of age 65 as the preserved pension age was a specific measure aimed at tackling the increased costs of longevity, and savings from this will essentially be longer term.
	A proportion of the overall saving was recycled into improved death-in-service and dependants' benefits. Savings in employer contributions for the armed forces pension schemes is estimated at around £50 million in 2008-09, which will grow in subsequent years due to the increasing proportion of membership covered by the new scheme. In the longer term, annual savings are estimated at around £125 million a year.

Armed Forces: Weapons

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the out of service dates of the  (a) AS90 and  (b) L118 are.

Quentin Davies: On present planning assumptions, which may change, both the AS90 and the L118 will be withdrawn from service in 2023.

Armed Forces: Young People

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel aged under 18 years died  (a) while on active service and  (b) in training in each of the last five years; and what the cause of death was in each case.

Bob Ainsworth: There have been no deaths of UK service personnel under 18 years of age while on active service in the last five years, where active service is defined as military duty in an operational area.
	In the last five years two UK service personnel aged under 18 years have died on training, both deaths occurred in 2007. One resulted from drowning; the other was the result of a helicopter crash.

Armed Forces: Young People

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many under 18-year-olds are serving in the armed forces.

Bob Ainsworth: The number of under 18-year-olds serving in the armed forces can be found in Tri Service Publication (TSP) 8—Age Distribution of UK Regular Forces. Table 1 shows the number of UK regular forces by age and sex as at 1 April 2008.
	www/dasa.mod.uk/applications/newWeb/www/index.php? page=48&pubType=1&thiscontent=80&Publish Time=09:30:00 &date=2008-05-29&disText=1%20April%202008&from= listing &topDate=2008-05-29
	TSP 8 is published on an annual basis.
	Copies of TSP 8 are available in the Library of the House and are also available at
	www.dasa.mod.uk.

Armed Forces: Young People

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many under 18-year-olds have applied for discretionary discharge under the unhappy minors provisions in the last three years; and how many of these applications were granted.

Bob Ainsworth: Following the introduction of the Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) System for all three services, the total number of under-18s who have left the armed forces can be provided but this figure cannot be broken down by the reasons for leaving.
	There are no known circumstances in which a formal application for discretionary discharge under the 'Under 18 Discharge as of Right' scheme has been rejected. The commanding officer has discretion to delay a decision on discharge (for example, if at sea) if he has doubts about the permanence of the individual's unhappiness; however, it is exceedingly rare for such an 'unhappy' individual to be refused immediate permission to leave.
	The number of under-18 personnel who have left the armed forces in the last three completed financial years are:
	
		
			   FY 2005-06  FY 2006-07  FY 2007-08 
			 Naval Service 245 (1)220 (1)255 
			 Army 1,440 (1)1,675 (1)1,765 
			 RAF 35 (1)10 (1)65 
			 (1) Figures are provisional and subject to review.  Notes: 1. Due to ongoing validation of data from JPA, all Naval Service flow statistics from period ending 31 October 2006, Army flow statistics from period ending 31 March 2007, and flow statistics from period ending 30 April 2007 are provisional and subject to review. 2. As a consequence of JPA, Army outflow data by age are unavailable for period ending 31 March 2007. Consequently Army data shown for FY 2006-07 are for the 12 months from 1 March 2006 to 28 February 2007.

Armed Forces: Young People

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the commitment of young people who joined the armed forces before the age of 18 years to serve for four years beyond their 18th birthday with  (a) international and human rights conventions and  (b) the International Labour Organisation Child Labour Conventions.

Bob Ainsworth: The Ministry of Defence does not consider the minimum commitment period for soldiers under the age of 18 years on enlistment into the Army to be in breach of either international and human rights conventions or the International Labour Organisation Child Labour Conventions.

AWE Burghfield: Floods

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contingency planning had been conducted at AWE Burghfield before the 2007 floods to prepare for such an eventuality; and if he will make a statement.

Quentin Davies: Contingency planning at AWE Burghfield is based on the output of a rolling programme of assessments undertaken as part of the site safety cases. Before the 2007 flooding these concluded that the surface water management system would be adequate to prevent flooding of the operational facilities in normal circumstances.
	Prior to the 2007 event, localised flooding was experienced at AWE Burghfield, which resulted in further contingency measures being implemented. This involved clearing and dredging the Burghfield Brook, which runs through the site, and reprofiling its banks to allow a greater amount of water to be contained and a constant flow to be maintained.
	Although the measures taken mitigated the effects of the July 2007 heavy rainfall, flooding still occurred as run-off from surrounding fields migrated to the site. Water sampling was completed throughout the site and no abnormal results were detected. At no time was there any threat to the operational safety of AWE sites, to the public or the environment.

China: Armed Forces

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence further to the answer of 20 October 2008,  Official Report, column 130W, on China: armed forces, whether the interruption of military co-operation with China by EU member states, as agreed in the Madrid Declaration 1989, remains in place.

Bob Ainsworth: As I said in my answer to the hon. Member on 20 October 2008,  Official Report, column 130W, most of the measures of the Madrid Declaration of 1989 have long since fallen into disuse. This includes the measure specifying the interruption of military co-operation by member states. The arms embargo, however, remains in place.

Colombia: Security Services

Anne Moffat: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department records the names of Colombian security forces personnel who have received training from UK military advisers in Colombia.

Bob Ainsworth: The Ministry of Defence keeps a record of Colombian security force personnel who have received UK training in Colombia for future monitoring purposes, including any accusations of human rights abuses. To date, there have been no cases of any UK-trained personnel being involved in such abuses. As we have previously made clear, the names of trained personnel are withheld as their release would, or would be likely to, prejudice international relations.

Defence: Finance

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of gross domestic product was spent on defence  (a) including the cost of military operations and  (b) excluding the cost of operations in each year since 1997; and what forecast he has made of the proportions to be so spent in each year to 2011.

John Hutton: Using audited outturn figures drawn from Ministry of Defence annual reports and accounts, historic figures are set out in table 1 as follows.
	
		
			  Table 1 
			   Percentage GDP including cost of operations  Percentage GDP excluding cost of operations 
			 1997-98 2.6 2.6 
			 1998-99 2.8 2.8 
			 1999-2000 2.7 2.7 
			 2000-01 2.6 2.6 
			 2001-02 2.5 2.5 
			 2002-03 2.5 2.4 
			 2003-04 2.5 2.4 
			 2004-05 2.8 2.7 
			 2005-06 2.7 2.5 
			 2006-07 2.6 2.4 
			 2007-08 (estimated) 2.6 2.4 
			  Note: Figures to 2003-04 are calculated on a cash/near cash basis; from 2004-05 onwards they are calculated using total DEL. 
		
	
	Figures for expenditure on defence (defined according to the UN's Classification of Function of Government Function (COFOG) category) are published in HM Treasury's Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses, as set out at table 2. These figures include the additional costs of military operations but do not separately identify these costs.
	
		
			  Table 2 
			   Percentage of GDP (outturn) 
			 1997-98 2.6 
			 1998-99 2.8 
			 1999-2000 2.7 
			 2000-01 2.6 
			 2001-02 2.5 
			 2002-03 2.5 
			 2003-04 2.5 
			 2004-05 2.5 
			 2005-06 2.5 
			 2006-07 2.4 
			 2007-08 (estimated) 2.4 
		
	
	Our latest forecast for the additional cost of operations will be set out in the Winter Supplementary Estimates. We do not publish forecasts for the additional cost of operations in future years or by proportion of GDP.

Departmental ICT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what IT projects  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its agencies is undertaking; and what the most recent estimate of (i) the cost and (ii) the completion date of each is.

Quentin Davies: An IT project can vary from installing single computers and software licences to major programmes, such as the Defence Information Infrastructure. To confirm all of the IT projects the Ministry of Defence, and each of its agencies, is undertaking and their estimates of cost and completion date can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Pensions

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what proportion of civil servants in his Department and its agencies are members of the  (a) Classic,  (b) Classic Plus,  (c) Nuvos and  (d) Premium civil service pension schemes.

Kevan Jones: It is important to bear in mind that the Ministry of Defence employs staff in a wide variety of occupations and professions. Some, such as our teachers and lecturers, belong to the teachers pension scheme while our medical and nursing staff belong to the NHS pension scheme. These, of course, are in a minority. The vast majority of MOD civil servants are eligible to belong to the civil service pension scheme—although some choose not to join a pension scheme or opt for a partnership pension account. Consequently, the number of staff belonging to the four specified pension schemes falls short of the Department's total civil service strength which, as at 1 September, stood at 79,510 (full and part-time). Using the latest data, the figures, which include trading funds and agencies, are as follows:
	
		
			   Number  Percentage 
			 Classic 49,626 62.41 
			 Classic Plus 2,382 3.00 
			 Nuvos 3,470 4.36 
			 Premium 19,325 24.31 
			 Total 74,803 94.08

Departmental Pensions

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civil servants working in his Department and its agencies have pensions with a cash equivalent transfer value of over £1 million.

Kevan Jones: It is not appropriate to disclose pension information for civil servants other than board members whose details are shown in the Remuneration Report in annual Resource Accounts. A copy of the Ministry of Defence's Resource Accounts for financial year 2007-08 and those for the Department's agencies and trading funds are available in the Library of the House.

Departmental Security

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many security passes have been reported  (a) lost and  (b) stolen by staff in (i) his Department and (ii) agencies sponsored by his Department in each year since 2001.

Bob Ainsworth: Details of lost/stolen security passes for 2003 were provided in an answer given on 28 January 2004,  Official Report, column 371W, to the hon. Member for Winchester (Mr. Oaten). However, figures for lost/stolen MOD security passes are not held centrally as they are issued at establishment level and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Details of lost/stolen service identity cards which are also used by service personnel as a security pass for site access purposes are held centrally but are only available from 2004. For numbers of lost/stolen service identity cards for the period February 2004 to June 2006 I refer the hon. Member to the answer on 4 September 2006,  Official Report, column 1713W, to the hon. Member for North Southwark and Bermondsey (Simon Hughes).
	Details of lost/stolen service identity cards for the period from July 2006 until 31 December 2007 were provided in an answer on 11 March 2008,  Official Report, column 293W, to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox).
	The number of lost/stolen service identity cards for the period from 1 January to 30 September 2008 is 5,313. It is not possible to differentiate between lost or stolen cards or whether the card relates to the Department or one of its agencies.

Departmental Temporary Employment

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which companies were used by his Department for providing temporary staff in each of the last five years; and what the value of contracts with each such company was in each of those years.

Kevan Jones: Until November 2006, MOD business units were individually responsible for engaging their own temporary staff. Since November 2006, a limited service to engage temporary staff has been provided through the People, Pay and Pensions Agency (PPPA). This does not yet cover all grades employed by the MOD, and therefore business units are still making their own arrangements where necessary. This means that information on total expenditure during each of the last five years could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Between November 2006 and September 2008, expenditure on temporary staff engaged by the PPPA to work in the MOD has been £10 million. The value of individual contracts has not been given due to commercial confidentiality. These staff have been obtained from the following list of agencies.
	A & J Recruitment
	Acorn4Jobs
	Active Staff
	Adecco
	Alpha Personnel
	AM Personnel
	Armstrong Appointments
	Atos Origin UK
	Aviation Requirements
	Blue Arrow
	Brook Street
	Bucks&Berks
	COS Recruitment
	Carlisle Staffing
	Castle Recruitment
	Champion Employment Agency
	Freshapproach
	Hays
	Hays (outside)
	Jennifer Griffiths Recruitment
	Jobs@Pertemps
	Josephine Sammons
	Key Personnel
	Manpower UK Ltd.
	Office Angels
	Opus Appointments
	Personnel Selection
	Pertemps Recruitment Partnership
	Phoenix Strategic
	Recruitment Express
	Reed (outside)
	Reed Employment
	Reed Property & Construction
	Robert Half
	Royle Recruitment
	S Com Group
	Saffron Recruitment
	Secondsite Recruitment
	Select Appointments
	Spring Personnel
	Stafforce Recruitment
	Storm Recruitment
	Systems Consultant Services
	Tate Recruitment
	Topstaff Recruitment
	Total Recruitment
	Turner Charles
	Venus Office Staffing
	Weststaff
	Wisewalk Resources
	Workforce Staff & Business

Hercules Aircraft: Safety

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons foam suppressant was not fitted to the wing-tanks of Hercules XL 179 which was shot down by enemy fire over Baghdad in 2005.

Bob Ainsworth: Explosion suppressant foam (ESF) was not fitted to the wing tanks of Hercules XV 179 in 2002 because it was not judged to be a sufficiently high priority at that time in relation to the assessed threat and emphasis was instead placed on implementing a range of other protective measures. The loss of XV179 showed that judgment was incorrect in relation to the threats which subsequently existed in 2005.
	The MOD has spent over £150 million on urgent operational requirements for the Hercules fleet since 2001, including enhanced defensive aids suites and flight deck armour. Furthermore, all Hercules aircraft operating in Iraq or Afghanistan are now fitted with ESF.

Hercules Aircraft: Safety

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the concluding comments of Wiltshire Coroner David Masters into the loss of Hercules XL179; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: I am grateful for the very thorough and professional manner in which David Masters, HM Coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon conducted the inquest into the loss of the 10 personnel tragically killed when Hercules XV179 crashed in Iraq in 2005. He brought a number of lessons to our attention and it is clear that there have been failures in our procedures for which I apologise. We will address all the issues raised during the inquest, where we have not already done so.

Horn of Africa: Piracy

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the command relationships will be between Combined Task Force-150, Combined Joint Task Force—Horn of Africa and the new EU-led anti-piracy mission off the Horn of Africa;
	(2)  how many British ships will participate in the EU-led anti-piracy mission off the Horn of Africa, broken down by type of ship; and for how long the mission will last;
	(3)  what the cost will be for the British contribution to the EU-led anti-piracy mission off the Horn of Africa; and whether the Athena mechanism will be used to determine costs;
	(4)  what the legal basis is for the EU-led anti-piracy mission off the Horn of Africa.

Bob Ainsworth: We have supported EU planning for a counter-piracy naval operation off the coast of Somalia. A formal legal decision from the EU member states to act, but not yet to launch the operation, is expected in the next 10 days.
	This will be based on a UK offer to provide the Operation Commander and Operation HQ. No decisions have been taken on the command structure relating to the Forward Headquarters, although we have made it clear that any European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) operation needs to ensure maximum co-ordination with Combined Task Force 150, Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa and NATO.
	The legal basis for the EU-led mission will be a Joint Action adopted under Articles 14, 25 and 28 of the Treaty of European Union, to support resolutions 1814/2008, 1816/2008 and 1838/2008 of the UN Security Council Resolutions.
	Force generation for the operation will not begin until EU Ministers have agreed to act. We intend to offer a Royal Navy frigate for part of the ESDP operation, but the timing and detail will be subject to ESDP force generation requirements and UK operational priorities. EU planning envisages an operation lasting one year from the declaration of Initial Operating Capability by the Operation Commander.
	The cost of this mission to the United Kingdom comprises two elements. The first is the common costs, which are determined by the Athena mechanism. The common costs will include the cost to set up the Operation Headquarters and the Force Headquarters. The second element is national costs associated with any ship deployment. Until further planning has been completed it will not be possible to determine the cost of the British contribution to any potential ESDP operation to tackle piracy.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether representatives of the British Army and representatives of the Mahdi Army entered into any agreement or accommodation in respect of military engagement in Iraq during 2007.

John Hutton: UK forces are operating in Iraq as part of a multi-national coalition at the request of the Iraqi Government. The coalition and the Iraqi Government have routinely followed a policy of dialogue with insurgent groups, where it is judged they can be persuaded to renounce violence and participate in the legitimate political process. The offer of engagement is open to groups across the political spectrum and it has been an essential element of the counter-insurgency strategy to bring peace and security to Iraq.
	In 2007, with the full knowledge and support both of our coalition partners and the Iraqi Government, UK forces conducted a dialogue with a range of militia leaders in Basra—including Jaish al-Mahdi—in accordance with the Iraq-wide reconciliation strategy. Neither these discussions, nor their outcome, prevented UK forces from providing military support to the Iraqi Security Forces.

Military Aircraft

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what percentage of  (a) C-17 Globemaster,  (b) C-130K Hercules,  (c) C-130J Hercules,  (d) Tristar,  (e) VC-10 and  (f) Nimrod aircraft are (i) in service, (ii) in the forward fleet and (iii) fit for purpose.

Quentin Davies: The information requested for C-17, C-130 Hercules, Tristar, VC10 and Nimrod aircraft that are in service, in the forward fleet (FF) and considered fit for purpose (FFP) is provided in the following table. 'In service' has been taken to mean the effective fleet which covers all aircraft barring those which are redundant, declared as surplus or awaiting disposal. Aircraft in the FF are those that are available to the front line command for operational and training purposes including those that are classed as short-term unserviceable aircraft undergoing scheduled depth maintenance, or planned routine fleet maintenance are not included. Aircraft defined as FFP are those considered capable of carrying out their planned missions on a given date. The FF and FFP figures shown are the latest available, provided as an average for September 2008, and have been rounded to the nearest whole number.
	
		
			   Total Fleet  In service  Percentage of Total Fleet that is in service  Number  in FF  Percent age  of  in service aircraft in FF  Number of aircraft FFP  Percentage of  FF aircraft which are FFP 
			 C-17 Globemaster 6 6 100 6 100 5 83 
			 C-130K Hercules 19 18 74 12 63 10 83 
			 C-130J Hercules 24 24 100 19 79 14 74 
			 Tristar 9 9 100 7 78 4 57 
			 VC-10 16 15 94 13 87 8 62 
			 Nimrod MR2 15 14 93 8 57 5 63 
			 Nimrod R1 3 3 100 1 33 1 100

Military Aircraft

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what percentage of  (a) Nimrod,  (b) Harrier,  (c) Tornado GR4,  (d) Tornado F3 and  (e) Typhoon aircraft are (i) in service, (ii) in the forward fleet and (iii) fit for purpose.

Quentin Davies: The information requested for Nimrod, Harrier, Tornado GR4, Tornado F3 and Typhoon aircraft that are in service, in the forward fleet (FF) and considered fit for purpose (FFP) is provided in the following table. 'In service' has been taken to mean the effective fleet which covers all aircraft barring those which are redundant, declared as surplus or awaiting disposal. FF aircraft are those that are available to the front line command for operational and training purposes including those that are classed as 'short-term unserviceable'; aircraft undergoing scheduled depth maintenance, or planned routine fleet maintenance are not included. Aircraft defined as FFP are those considered capable of carrying out their planned missions on a given date. The figures shown are a snapshot for the 30 September, except where stated, and have been rounded to the nearest whole number.
	
		
			  Aircraft  Fleet number  In service  Percentage of total fleet in service  Number in FF  Percent of total in FF  Number of aircraft FFP  Percentage of  FF aircraft which are FFP 
			 Nimrod MR2(1) 15 14 93 8 57 5 63 
			 Nimrod R1(1) 3 3 100 1 33 1 100 
			 Harrier 75 75 100 47 63 36 77 
			 Tornado GR4 138 138 100 95 69 57 60 
			 Tornado F3 71 71 100 47 66 32 68 
			 Typhoon 49 49 100 34 69 29 85 
			 (1) Figures are average for September 2008.

Military Aircraft

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many days on average a  (a) Hercules C-130,  (b) Tristar,  (c) VC-10 and  (d) C-17 Globemaster was (i) on operations, (ii) engaged in non-operational flying, (iii) available but not flown, (iv) in scheduled maintenance, (v) undergoing other repair activity, (vi) undergoing unscheduled maintenance, (vii) awaiting spares and (viii) not worked in each of the last three years.

Quentin Davies: This information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Military Aircraft: Helicopters

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of  (a) Chinook,  (b) Merlin and  (c) Sea King helicopters are (i) in service, (ii) fit for purpose and (iii) out of service.

Quentin Davies: The percentages of the  (a) Chinook,  (b) Merlin and  (c) Sea King helicopters considered (i) in service, (ii) fit for purpose and (iii) out of service are detailed in the following table. 'In service' has been taken to mean the effective fleet which covers all aircraft barring those which are redundant, declared as surplus or awaiting disposal. Fit for purpose aircraft are those in the forward fleet considered capable of carrying out their planned missions on a given date. Aircraft in the forward fleet are those that are available to the front line command for operational and training purposes, including those that are classed as 'short-term unserviceable': aircraft undergoing scheduled depth maintenance, or planned routine fleet maintenance are excluded. 'Out of service' has been taken to mean the non-effective fleet, which covers those aircraft that are redundant, declared as surplus or awaiting disposal.
	The following figures are for averages for the month of August 2008.
	
		
			  August 2008 
			   In service aircraft as a percentage of total fleet  Fit for purpose aircraft as a percentage of forward fleet  Out of service aircraft as a percentage of total fleet 
			 Chinook 2/2a(1) 100 72 0 
			 Merlin Mk1(1) 100 44 0 
			 Merlin Mk3/3a(1) 100 59 0 
			 Sea King Mk5 100 55 0 
			 Sea King Mk7 100 44 0 
			 Sea King Mk4/6C(1) 100 59 0 
			 Sea King Mk3/3a 100 47 0 
			 (1) Deployed on operations. 
		
	
	The number of helicopters fit for purpose will vary from day to day due, primarily, to routine maintenance requirements. Operational capability is measured in terms of flying hours rather than the number of airframes available. All rotary wing operational requirements are currently being met.

Military Aircraft: Helicopters

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what percentage of helicopters in the  (a) Army Air Corps,  (b) Fleet Air Arm and  (c) Royal Air Forces are (i) in service, (ii) in the forward fleet and (iii) fit for purpose, broken down by helicopter type.

Quentin Davies: The numbers and types of helicopters used by the Army Air Corps, Fleet Air Arm and Royal Air Force which are in service, in the forward fleet and considered fit for purpose are detailed in the following table. "In service" has been taken to mean the effective fleet which covers all aircraft barring those which are redundant, declared as surplus or awaiting disposal. Aircraft in the "forward fleet" are those that are available to the front line command for operational and training purposes, including those that are classed as "short-term unserviceable": aircraft undergoing scheduled depth maintenance, or planned routine fleet maintenance are excluded. Fit for purpose aircraft are those in the forward fleet considered capable of carrying out their planned missions on a given date.
	The following figures represent averages taken for August 2008.
	
		
			   Total fleet  In service  Percentage of total fleet that is in service  Number in forward fleet  Percentage of in service aircraft that is in the forward fleet  Number  f it for  p urpose  Percentage of forward fleet fit aircraft that is for purpose 
			  Royal Navy
			 Lynx Mk3/8 71 63 89 43 68 28 65 
			 Sea King Mk5 15 15 100 11 73 6 55 
			 Sea King Mk7 13 13 100 10 77 4 40 
			 Sea King Mk4/6C(1) 42 42 100 29 69 17 59 
			 Merlin Mkl(1) 42 42 100 22 52 10 45 
			  Army Air Corps
			 A109 4 4 100 4 100 3 75 
			 Apache(1) 67 67 100 50 75 20 40 
			 Gazelle 98 56 57 46 82 37 80 
			 Lynx Mk7/9(1) 109 96 88 61 64 36 59 
			  Royal Air Force
			 Merlin Mk3/3a(1) 28 28 100 17 61 10 59 
			 Puma(1) 43 32 74 24 75 16 67 
			 Chinook 2/2a(1) 40 40 100 29 73 21 72 
			 Sea King Mk3/3a 25 25 100 17 68 8 47 
			 (1 )Deployed on operations. 
		
	
	The number of helicopters fit for purpose will vary from day to day due, primarily, to routine maintenance requirements. Operational capability is measured in terms of flying hours rather than the number of airframes available. All rotary wing operational requirements are currently being met.

Military Aircraft: Helicopters

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of helicopters used by British armed forces was contracted from private operators in the latest period for which figures are available.

Quentin Davies: In financial year 2007-08 the proportion of helicopters contracted from private operators was 9.6 per cent.

Military Aircraft: Procurement

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many units of the  (a) Tranche 3 Typhoon,  (b) Joint Strike Fighter and  (c) A300M have been (i) ordered and (ii) delivered.

Quentin Davies: The number of aircraft which have been ordered and delivered is as follows:
	 Typhoon Tranche 3:
	Negotiations with partner nations and industry are continuing and decisions will be taken once these negotiations are complete.
	 Joint Strike Fighter:
	None.
	 A400M:
	The UK has ordered 25 A400M aircraft. No deliveries have been made to date.

Military Aircraft: Training

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many training sorties for the  (a) Hercules C-130,  (b) Tristar,  (c) VC-10 and  (d) C-17 Globemaster were cancelled in each year since 2003.

Quentin Davies: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Military Aircraft: Training

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many training flying hours crews of the  (a) Hercules C-130,  (b) Tristar,  (c) VC-10 and  (d) C-17 Globemaster aircraft flew on average in each year since 2001.

Bob Ainsworth: I will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.

Nuclear Weapons

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  whether US personnel will be asked to participate in his Department's work on the Warhead Pre-Concept Working Group;
	(2)  whether the Warhead Pre-Concept Working Group has considered options for  (a) agent defeat and  (b) other warhead modifications, as part of its work;
	(3)  whether work emerging from the  (a) theoretical enhanced radiation and  (b) residual enhanced radiation weapon warhead concept have been examined as part of the work of the Warhead Pre-Concept Working Group; and whether personnel at AWE Aldermaston have been briefed on these or other advanced nuclear weapons concepts by their US counterparts in the last three years.

John Hutton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my predecessor gave him on 28 November 2007,  Official Report, column 453W from which he will be aware that research is currently being undertaken in support of the detailed review described in paragraph 7-4 of the December 2006 White Paper: The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent (Cmd 6994). This review, which was previously overseen by the Warhead Pre-Concept Working Group (WPCWG) is now being co-ordinated by the Atomic Weapons Establishment within their systems engineering management structure under the direction of the Ministry of Defence. It is examining both the optimum life of the UK's existing nuclear warhead stockpile and the range of replacement options that might be available to inform decisions on whether and how we may need to refurbish or replace the existing warhead likely to be necessary in the next Parliament. Some of the work included in this review is being undertaken in co-operation with the US and with the assistance of US personnel under the 1958 UK-US Agreement for Co-operation on the Uses of Atomic Energy for Mutual Defence Purposes.
	I am withholding further details of this ongoing review and related discussions held with the US under the 1958 Mutual Defence Agreement in the interests of national security.

Peacekeeping Operations

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many service personnel have been diagnosed with  (a) heatstroke and  (b) other heat-related illness in Iraq since 2003;
	(2)  how many service personnel have been diagnosed with  (a) heatstroke and  (b) other heat-related illness in Afghanistan since 2001.

Kevan Jones: The Ministry of Defence records instances of heat illness, as part of its monitoring of climatic injury. Heat illness has traditionally been divided into heat exhaustion and heat stroke, but in practice it is difficult to define the division between the two. Heat illness is therefore used to cover a continuum of illness ranging from mild symptoms such as muscular weakness, headache and excess fatigue to more serious outcomes such as collapse, coma and death.
	The following table shows the instances of heat illness that have required attendance at a Field Hospital for Operation Telic since 2003 and Operation Herrick since reporting began in August 2006:
	
		
			   Operation Telic  Operation Herrick 
			 2003 804 n/a 
			 2004 130 n/a 
			 2005 62 n/a 
			 2006 99 (1)19 
			 2007 107 62 
			 2008(2) 2 5 
			 (1) Data collection did not begin in Afghanistan until August 2006.  (2) 1 January to 31 March 2008. 
		
	
	This table updates the figures for 2006 and 2007 given in a previous answer to a question on heat related illness—21 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1637W. Both sets of figures were provided by Defence Analytical Services and Advice (DASA); however the numbers in the earlier answer were based on field hospital admissions records. The data in this answer have been extracted from the Operational Emergency Department Attendance register (OpEDAR). As OpEDAR covers all attendances, regardless of whether they are admitted, DASA has advised that it provides a more comprehensive figure for heat illness.
	These figures provide an indication of instances of heat illness. It is likely that there have been other cases of heat injury which could not be identifed from the available records as they may have been recorded under a variety of symptoms (e.g. dehydration, headache etc.) common to other illnesses. In Iraq, the temperature and humidity can change very quickly, increasing the likelihood of sudden instances of heat illness.
	Various steps are taken to prevent heat related illnesses. Commanders are provided with heat illness prevention instructions in order to monitor heat stress. Temperature and humidity levels are forecast daily as part of standard operating procedures thereby allowing commanders to schedule workloads accordingly. Where operationally feasible, although clearly this will not be possible in every single location, air conditioning is used in accommodation, business offices and facilities such as welfare, catering and medical facilities in the main camps in operational theatres. Canteen areas have large fridges which are stocked with a plentiful supply of cold water.

Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what priority is accorded to post and parcels in shipping goods from the UK to  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan for service personnel.

Bob Ainsworth: Mail for HM armed forces serving in Iraq and Afghanistan is afforded the highest possible priority behind essential supplies such as water, food, medical supplies and ammunition.

Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the primary means for transporting post and parcels from  (a) the UK and  (b) Germany to (i) Iraq and (ii) Afghanistan is.

Bob Ainsworth: The primary means for transporting post and parcels from the UK and Germany to Iraq and Afghanistan is by military chartered or RAF aircraft.

Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on transporting post and parcels from  (a) the UK and  (b) Germany to (i) Iraq and (ii) Afghanistan since 2001.

Bob Ainsworth: Post and parcels sent to Iraq and Afghanistan are transported by RAF and military chartered aircraft. They travel as part of variable mixed loads and the individual cost of each consignment is not recorded.

Royal Military Academy

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is routine procedure for approval of overseas military personnel attending military courses at Sandhurst to be required from Ministers in his Department; when the procedures for considering applications for such training were last reviewed; and whether any changes were made.

Bob Ainsworth: It is not routine procedure for ministerial approval to be sought for the attendance of overseas military personnel at Sandhurst when engagement with a cadet's host nation is consistent with pan-Whitehall strategy.
	All applications for training at Sandhurst are reviewed, and will continue to be reviewed, on a continuous basis by the appropriate policy staff in MOD, and there has been no change to the role of Ministers in this process.

Russia: NATO

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department has had discussions with its NATO counterparts on possible military co-operation with the Russian Federation in Afghanistan.

John Hutton: At a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council at Defence Ministerial level on 13 June, Russia's support to the Alliance's mission in Afghanistan was widely welcomed, although Russia made it clear this support stopped short of direct military intervention. The support includes transit arrangements through Russian territory in support of the International Security Assistance Force, and a NATO-Russia Council project on counter-narcotics training for Afghan and Central Asian personnel. In the wake of the crisis in Georgia this summer, discussions between NATO and Russia have slowed, but the UK is working to keep open avenues for operational co-operation where that is in NATO's interests.

USA: Military Bases

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what use is made of RAF Molesworth in the US Africom programme.

John Hutton: US personnel at the Joint Analysis Centre at RAF Molesworth provide intelligence analysis capabilities for the US Africa Command.

USA: Military Bases

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether an operational certificate has been issued by the US Administration for the space-based infra-red system at RAF Menwith Hill.

John Hutton: RAF Menwith Hill houses a satellite ground terminal which receives data from the space-based infra-red system (SBIRS) satellites to be routed to the US for the purposes of both missile early warning and ballistic missile defence. The use of RAF Menwith Hill as a relay link for the SBIRS has been agreed between the UK and US Governments. As both the satellite system and the ground terminal at RAF Menwith Hill are owned and operated by the US Government, we hold no information on the operational certification for the SBIRS.

War Graves

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps would need to be taken to extend the Commonwealth War Graves Commission dates of commemoration from 31 December 1947.

Kevan Jones: The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) is an independent, internationally funded body established by Royal Charter which defines the Commission's dates for commemoration. Her Majesty's Government have no direct control over its activities.
	Responsibility for the commemoration of UK armed forces personnel who, from 1 January 1948, die in service and who receive a service-funded funeral rests with the Ministry of Defence (MOD). Their graves are maintained in perpetuity by the Department.

War Graves: Educational Visits

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will hold discussions with the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families to discuss increasing opportunities for schoolchildren to visit British war graves.

Kevan Jones: With the study of both world wars embedded in the curricula, many schools now incorporate a visit to war cemeteries as part of their learning activities. Organisations such as the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the Royal British Legion and the Imperial War Museum have schemes to facilitate visits of this nature; therefore I have no current plans to meet with the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families to discuss this issue.

World War II: Medals

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people in Bexley were awarded a veteran's badge in each year since the inception of the award.

Kevan Jones: The information is not held in the format that identifies how many HM armed forces veterans badges have been issued in Bexley. However, we have identified from our database that a total number of 473 residents who have included Bexley in their address have applied for and received their veterans lapel badge.
	Between May 2004 and 30 September 2008 over 664,000 HM armed forces veterans lapel badges have been issued. In addition veterans lapel badges are now awarded to service personnel as they leave the services.

HEALTH

Accident and Emergency Departments: Discharges

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of emergency patients were discharged within a day in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: The available information is provided in the following table.
	
		
			   Number of discharges on same date as admission  Proportion of total discharges (Percentage)  Number of discharges on the next date from admission  Proportion of total discharges (Percentage) 
			 2002-03 671,049 16.79 774,595 19.38 
			 2003-04 770,135 18.08 850,062 19.96 
			 2004-05 929,509 20.65 924,538 20.54 
			 2005-06 1,119,251 23.61 983,669 20.75 
			 2006-07 1,201,320 25.05 1,023,988 21.35 
			  Notes:  Quality of care: Data derived from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) cannot be used in isolation to evaluate the quality of care provided by NHS trusts. There are many factors that can affect the outcome of treatment and it is beyond the scope of HES to adequately record and present all of these.  Ungrossed data: Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).  Discharges: A discharge episode is the last episode during a hospital stay (a spell), where the patient is discharged from the hospital (this includes transfer to another hospital).  Data Quality: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. Data are also received from a number of independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  Assessing growth through time: HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. During the years that these records have been collected by the NHS, there have been ongoing improvements in quality and coverage. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Some of the increase in figures for later years (particularly 2006-07 onwards) may be due to the improvement in the coverage of independent sector activity. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example, a number of procedures may now be undertaken in out-patient settings and may no longer be accounted for in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time.  Length of stay (duration of episode)/Length of stay (duration of spell): Length of stay (LOS) is calculated as the difference in days between the admission date and the discharge date, where both are given. LOS is based on hospital spells and only applies to ordinary admissions, i.e. day cases are excluded (unless otherwise stated). Information relating to LOS figures, including discharge method/destination, diagnoses and any operative procedures, is based only on the final episode of the spell. These data are restricted to discharge episodes which had the following types of admission method: 21 = Emergency: via accident and emergency (A&E) services, including the casualty department of the provider 22 = Emergency: via general practitioner (GP) 23 = Emergency: via Bed Bureau, including the Central Bureau 24 = Emergency: via consultant out-patient clinic 28 = Emergency: other means, including patients who arrive via the A&E department of another health care provider.  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), the NHS Information Centre for health and social care.

Ageing

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to promote healthy ageing in the last 10 years.

Phil Hope: Over the last decade, the Department has developed a number of policy initiatives, which has increased the focus on supporting the health and well-being of the elderly population, such as the "National Service Framework for Older People" (2001). This was followed by "Better Health in Old Age" (2004) and "A new ambition for old age" (2006) which has a focus on active ageing. These documents have already been placed in the Library.
	The Department has also provided £60 million funding through the Partnerships for Older People Projects programme to improve care of older people by local councils, to stay healthy, active and independent in their old age.
	In May 2008 the Department announced a prevention package for older people which will be developed to address the challenge of providing improved and better preventative care for older people.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether responsibility messages, unit labelling and other such information should be on the bottle or can or on the disposable outer packaging in which bottles and cans are packaged under the terms of the voluntary alcohol labelling agreement.

Dawn Primarolo: The voluntary alcohol labelling agreement, to include unit content, daily guidelines, and other information on most alcohol labels by the end of 2008, applies as a primary requirement to labels on the bottle or can, since consumers should receive a reminder of the information more often and closer to the point of consumption.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individuals have made more than one submission to his Department's consultation on the alcohol strategy.

Dawn Primarolo: Although the consultation period, 22 July to 14 October 2008, has ended, we are logging and analysing responses. Therefore, it is not possible to answer the question at this stage. However, we are not aware of individuals sending multiple responses to the consultation.

Annual Health Check

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of implementing the recommendations of the report of the Healthcare Commission in 2007-08 entitled Annual Health Check.

Ben Bradshaw: The Healthcare Commission's Annual Health Check reports progress made by national health service organisations. It does not make recommendations.

Blood: Contamination

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of NHS patients who received infected blood products in each year since 1992.

Dawn Primarolo: Joint surveillance by NHS Blood and Transplant and the Health Protection Agency of transfusion transmitted infections began on 1 October 1995. Data are collated on transmission of viruses and bacteria. Since October 1995 the confirmed number of patients who have received infected blood products is 61. A further two infections were reported since October 1995 relating to transfusions that occurred in 1991. Complete data for the years between 1992 and 1995 are not available.
	
		
			  Patients receiving infected blood products 
			   Number 
			 1995 3 
			 1996 6 
			 1997 8 
			 1998 5 
			 1999 7 
			 2000 9 
			 2001 5 
			 2002 3 
			 2003 5 
			 2004 1 
			 2005 4 
			 2006 2 
			 2007 3

Dementia: Drugs

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the number of patients with dementia who have been given neuroleptic sedatives in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: This information is not collected by the Department.

Dementia: Finance

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what analysis his Department has undertaken of the funding required to implement the draft National Dementia Strategy for England.

Phil Hope: A draft of a National Dementia Strategy was published on 19 June for consultation and copies have already been placed in the Library. The consultation closed on 11 September and we are currently considering carefully all the responses received before deciding the final shape of the strategy, and then we will analyse what resources are available to support its implementation. Funding will be announced around the same time the strategy is published.

Departmental Finance

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish his Department's resource accounts for 2007-08.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department's resource accounts for 2007-08 were laid before Parliament on the 9 October 2008, HC 1042.

Departmental Information and Communications Technology

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on upgrading its IT in each of the last three financial years.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department spent the following on upgrading its information technology infrastructure over the last three years:
	
		
			   £ 
			  2007-08  
			 Revenue spend 427,000 
			 Capital spend 4,069,000 
			   
			  2006-07  
			 Revenue spend 343,000 
			 Capital spend 3,123,000 
			   
			  2005-06  
			 Revenue spend 740,000 
			 Capital spend 6,100,000

Departmental Lost Property

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of documents sent to external bodies by his Department were lost in the post in the latest period for which information is available.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department does not hold this information centrally.

Departmental Marketing

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on buying advertising space on the Jeremy Kyle show to date in 2008.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 17 October 2008
	In the course of 2008, (up to 30 September), the Department has spent £309,318 buying space within advertising breaks on the Jeremy Kyle show.
	The following table shows the spend on advertising on the Jeremy Kyle show by campaign.
	
		
			  Campaign  Spend (£) 
			 Anti Smoking 116,951 
			 Child Immunisation 3,503 
			 Social Care 11,157 
			 Tobacco Send Off 102,675 
			 Alcohol Awareness 15,460 
			 Tobacco Motivation 53,299 
			 Tobacco Lead Generation 6,273

Departmental Pay

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was paid in bonuses to staff in his Department in the latest period for which figures are available; and what the largest single payment was.

Ben Bradshaw: The amount paid in bonuses to staff in the last year was £2,423,701. The largest single payment was £27,500.
	Special bonuses can be awarded to any member of staff in recognition of work beyond their normal range of duties. Annual bonuses are paid to staff who are members of the senior civil service (SCS), based on the extent to which objectives are met, how they are met and how stretching they are. The figures provided here cover special bonuses for the year from 1 October 2007 to 30 September 2008, and annual SCS bonuses awarded in 2008. The largest single payment was an annual SCS bonus.

Departmental Pensions

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of civil servants in his Department and its agencies are members of the  (a) Classic,  (b) Classic Plus,  (c) Nuvos and  (d) Premium civil service pension schemes.

Ben Bradshaw: Information on membership of pension schemes by civil servants in the Department is in the following table:
	
		
			   Classic  Premium and Classic Plus  Nuvos  
			  Organisation  Number  Proportion  (%)  Number  Proportion  (%)  Number  Proportion  (%)  Total 
			 Core Department 1,562 67.1 637 27.4 130 5.6 2,329 
			 Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency 366 43.0 370 43.5 115 13.6 851 
			 NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency 157 62.3 73 29.0 22 8.7 252 
			  Note: The percentage figures in rows of the table do not always sum to 100 because of rounding. Separate figures on Premium and Classic Plus schemes are not available

Departmental Public Expenditure

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what  (a) private finance initiative and  (b) local improvement finance trust schemes his Department is planning which are not yet operational; what the (i) monetary value of the contract and (ii) equity partners are in each case; and what his most recent assessment is of each such scheme's viability.

Ben Bradshaw: Information on private finance initiative (PFI) and local improvement finance trust (LIFT) schemes under construction (i.e. not yet operational) with their respective capital values and equity partners has been placed in the Library.
	The LIFT schemes shown in the Library document are those currently under construction. The planning of LIFT schemes is a local responsibility, and while the Department is aware that many LIFT schemes are currently being planned, it does not hold a comprehensive record of these potential schemes.
	PFI schemes in the planning stage, either actively preparing an initial outline business case or currently in procurement, are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Commissioning body  OBC approved/to be approved  Estimated total capital value  (£ millions) 
			 Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust 2009 143 
			 North Bristol/South Gloucestershire PCTs May 2007 Financial close not expected within next 12 months 475 
			 Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust End of 2008/ Beginning 2009 61 
			 Sandwell and West Birmingham Acute NHS Trust 2009 368 
			 West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust 2010 280 
			 East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust 2010 110 
			 Papworth Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust End of 2008/ beginning 2009 125 
			 Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital NHS Trust 2009 235 
			 Mersey Care NHS trust 2009 170 
			 Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust 2009 477 
			 Birmingham and Solihull MH Trust (Yardley Green) 2009 45 
		
	
	Once an NHS body has signed a PR or LIFT contract, the financial terms of the loan raised by the private sector consortium counterparty are set and fixed. The overall cost of the project to the NHS will not change (unless the NHS wants to make a change to its own requirements). PFI contracts deal comprehensively with the possibility of early termination due to contractor default, including through insolvency, in order to protect the public interest.
	The Government's policy continues to be that PFI, LIFT and other public-private partnerships should be used to deliver public services when this offers value for money. This is assessed on a case by case basis at the appropriate approval point for each scheme.

Dietary Supplements: EC Law

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what support is being provided by the Food Standards Agency and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to help the Governments of the Crown Dependencies bring forward measures to meet obligations to comply with European legislation on food supplements and herbal remedies;
	(2)  when Ministers in his Department last discussed with the Governments of the Channel Islands concerns about the import to the United Kingdom of food supplements and herbal remedies marketed using claims which would be illegal where the products to have been placed directly on the United Kingdom market; and what the outcome was of those discussions;
	(3)  how many adjudications have been made by the Advertising Standards Authority in relation to complaints about the making of illegal claims in the marketing of food supplements and herbal remedies from the Channel Islands; what assessment he has made of the such adjudications; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: A meeting was held on 11 April 2008 between officials from the Food Standards Agency, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the Ministry of Justice and representatives of the Crown Dependencies, at which the UK offered support to the Crown Dependencies to assist with the implementation of relevant European legislation on food supplements.
	Separately, the MHRA has provided considerable support to the Government of Guernsey by reviewing Guernsey's proposed medicines law to identify those areas which require additional legislation to implement Directive 2001/83/EC on medicinal products and by providing advice as necessary. The MHRA expects to provide the same review and advice assistance to the other Crown Dependencies as they bring forward their measures to implement the Medicines Directive.
	Health Ministers have not raised these matters directly with Governments of the Channel Islands. The Ministry of Justice provides the official channel of communication between the UK and the Crown Dependencies and in late 2007 and early 2008 separate meetings took place between the Chief Executives of the three Crown Dependencies and the Minister of State for Justice during which these matters were discussed.
	The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is an independent body set up by the advertising industry to police the rules laid down in two advertising codes. These codes are the responsibility of two industry Committees of Advertising Practice—CAP (Broadcast) and CAP (Non-broadcast) and are independently administered by the ASA. As such, the information could only be obtained from the ASA.

Drugs: Rehabilitation

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the effects of the use of suboxone instead of methadone or subutex in prisons.

Phil Hope: Suboxone, methadone and subutex are available on the national health service. The decision to use any drug is a clinical one, taken in the community or in prison following consultation with the patient about their clinical needs and priorities.
	In January 2007 the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published the Technology Appraisal "Methadone and buprenorphine for managing opioid dependence", which recommended the use of both methadone and buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid dependence. Such treatments must be funded and provided within the NHS in line with NICE recommendations. However, this appraisal did not consider suboxone which combines buprenorphine and naloxone and subutex which is buprenorphine only, as newer products.
	Advice on prescribing of suboxone is contained in "Drug Misuse and Dependence: UK Guidelines on Clinical Management", which was published jointly by the Department of Health and the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse in September 2007. This has already been placed in the Library and can be found at:
	http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publichealth/Healthimprovement/Substancemisuse/Substancemisusegeneralinformation/DH_4064342

Drugs: Rehabilitation

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of whether suboxone has advantages in terms of reduced potential for diversion and reduced chance of overdose compared with other anti-opiate therapies.

Dawn Primarolo: Suboxone takes the form of a tablet to be placed under the tongue. It is a combination of buprenorphine hydrochloride and naloxone hydrochloride, used in the treatment of opioid dependence.
	Buprenorphine stimulates the effects of opioids, such as heroin, and naloxone blocks the effects of opioids.
	Suboxone has been designed to limit the potential for its misuse. When it is taken as prescribed, under the tongue, the naloxone has no effect, but if it is misused and injected the naloxone becomes activated and causes withdrawal symptoms, which makes the drug unattractive for misuse.
	The decision to use suboxone is a clinical one and is taken following consultation with the patient about their clinical needs and priorities. This principle applies in prisons and the community alike. In prisons all prescribed doses of controlled drugs such as buprenorphine-based drugs and of methadone are administered under closely supervised conditions.
	Advice on prescribing of suboxone is contained in "Drug Misuse and Dependence: UK Guidelines on Clinical Management", which was published jointly by the Department and the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse in September 2007. A copy has been placed in the Library and can also be found at:
	http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publichealth/Healthimprovement/Substancemisuse/Substancemisusegeneralinformation/DH_4064342

Eculizumab

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will assist primary care trusts with the funding of eculizumab; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many primary care trusts in England and Wales are funding the use of eculizumab in the treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria;
	(3)  which primary care trusts in England and Wales have refused to fund the use of eculizumab in the treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria on the grounds of cost-effectiveness.

Phil Hope: My right hon. Friend the Minister for Public Health made a written ministerial statement on 8 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 16-17WS, setting out the current position for the NHS commissioning of patients with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH). The National Specialised Commissioning team are making good progress with arrangements to ensure that all patients who require the drug eculizumab before the national commissioning starts on 1 April 2009 will receive it.
	The National Assembly for Wales will look at the position for PNH patients in Wales.

General Practitioners

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer of 6 October 2008,  Official Report, column 411WA, on general practitioners, how many examples his Department received from members of the public; and to which primary care trusts these examples related.

Ben Bradshaw: A standard search of departmental records has identified three letters and a further 12 items of electronic correspondence that mention examples of 'gentlemen's agreements'.
	There may be further examples that allude to this issue but do not use the term 'gentlemen's agreement'. Identifying any such cases would be disproportionately expensive.
	The address of the correspondents cannot be identified on all the electronic correspondence. However, we can identify the address of the correspondent in 14 cases. These addresses were in the area of the following primary care trusts (PCTs).
	Barnet PCT
	Buckinghamshire PCT
	Devon PCT
	East Riding of Yorkshire PCT
	East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT
	Leicester and Rutland PCT
	Lincolnshire PCT (2)
	South Essex PCT
	Surrey PCT
	Western Cheshire PCT
	Warwickshire PCT (2)
	Trafford PCT

Health Centres

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what data returns his Department plans to collect from  (a) strategic health authorities and  (b) primary care trusts to assess levels of implementation of the programme for a new GP-led health centre in each area.

Ben Bradshaw: Primary care trusts (PCTs) are asked to provide a monthly update on progress against national procurement milestones, confirmation of compliance with departmental core criteria, the expected date of service commencement, and where known, the postcode of the service location. This information is provided by PCTs, and signed off by strategic health authorities (SHAs).
	In addition, we have ad hoc discussions with SHAs on any issues arising.

Health Services: Per Capita Costs

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent per head on health services in  (a) Peterborough,  (b) Cambridgeshire and  (c) England in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: Expenditure per unweighted head of population in 2007-08 was:  (a) Peterborough £1,130.62,  (b) Cambridgeshire £1,274.48, and  (c) England £1,539.88
	Spend in Peterborough and Cambridgeshire is based on the net operating cost reported by Peterborough Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Cambridgeshire PCT respectively. This does not include all expenditure as the majority of pharmaceutical services expenditure is accounted for by the NHS Business Services Authority rather than by PCTs.
	The England figure is the total net operating costs of all PCTs and all strategic health authorities plus the national spend on pharmaceutical services. It is not directly comparable with the spend per head at the individual PCT level.
	Spend figures are from the audited financial monitoring and accounts forms for the relevant NHS bodies.
	Population figures are ONS 2007 estimates.

Health Services: Per Capita Costs

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent per head on health services in  (a) the Mid Essex Hospital Trust area,  (b) the North Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust area and  (c) England in the latest period for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: Expenditure per head of population cannot be calculated for national health service trusts as they do not cover specific areas and may receive income from commissioners throughout England.
	In 2007-08, the spend per unweighted head on health services in England was £1,539.88.
	The England expenditure figure includes the total net operating costs of all primary care trusts and all strategic health authorities plus the national spend on pharmaceutical services.
	Population figures are Office for National Statistics 2007 estimates.

Health Services: South West

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the overall measurable NHS spending is per local resident in  (a) England and  (b) each primary care trust within the South West Strategic Health Authority in each financial year from 1997 to 2007.

Ben Bradshaw: The national health service spend per unweighted head of population in England since 1997 is shown in table 1.
	
		
			  Table 1: All England spend per head 
			   £ 
			 1997-98 647.37 
			 1998-99 673.19 
			 1999-2000 755.00 
			 2000-01 789.15 
			 2001-02 815.12 
			 2002-03 991.07 
			 2003-04 1,116.32 
			 2004-05 1,236.10 
			 2005-06 1,334.99 
			 2006-07 1,393.93 
			 2007-08 1,539.88 
		
	
	NHS spend per unweighted head of population in primary care trusts (PCTs) in the South West Strategic Health Authority is shown in table 2 for years 2001-02 to 2005-06 and in table 3 for 2006-07 and 2007-08. Accounts figures by individual NHS body are not available prior to 2001-02.
	
		
			  Table 2: Spend per head in primary care trusts 2001-02 to 2005-06 
			  £ 
			  PCT name  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06 
			 Bath and North East Somerset PCT 809.25 941.11 1,029.49 1,108.43 1,142.61 
			 Bournemouth Teaching PCT 662.81 1,005.99 1,044.17 1,176.97 1,255.52 
			 Bristol North PCT n/a 1,021.85 1,274.36 1,308.71 1,416.95 
			 Bristol South and West PCT n/a 1,097.65 1,101.44 1,177.31 1,349.49 
			 Carrick PCT 609.29 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Central Cornwall PCT n/a 1,008.72 1,000.02 1,117.75 1,216.86 
			 Cheltenham and Tewkesbury PCT n/a 789.26 879.85 936.87 1,156.06 
			 Cotswold and Vale PCT n/a 852.59 938.83 1,096.06 1,160.83 
			 East Devon PCT 570.09 926.90 1,045.46 1,294.20 1,311.34 
			 Exeter PCT 666.21 860.64 973.62 1,000.07 1,287.23 
			 Kennet and North Wiltshire PCT n/a 833.53 891.53 978.22 1,095.00 
			 Mendip PCT 667.10 772.92 862.57 1,004.95 1,111.55 
			 Mid Devon PCT 577.22 917.69 915.63 1,139.23 1,206.12 
			 North and East Cornwall PCT n/a 927.33 947.02 1,092.12 1,204.57 
			 North Devon PCT 626.28 914.76 978.39 1,091.49 1,186.51 
			 North Dorset PCT 798.53 923.22 900.52 1,039.52 1,138.58 
			 North Somerset PCT n/a 871.79 937.77 1,068.31 1,145.30 
			 Plymouth Teaching PCT 734.27 1,006.02 1,035.17 1,170.23 1,280.85 
			 Poole PCT n/a 812.82 1,009.61 1,157.59 1,265.59 
			 Poole Bay PCT 624.86 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Poole Central and North PCT 660.80 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Somerset Coast PCT 658.13 834.75 903.77 1,034.67 1,147.47 
			 South and East Dorset PCT 749.93 1,021.48 1,021.62 1,135.04 1,222.03 
			 South Gloucestershire PCT 781.49 785.11 904.17 1,003.60 1,055.93 
			 South Hams and West Devon PCT 741.74 757.02 977.63 1,112.67 1,181.88 
			 South Somerset PCT n/a 941.49 978.66 1,095.31 1,169.82 
			 South West Dorset PCT 667.73 925.15 995.16 1,149.13 1,217.50 
			 South Wiltshire PCT 764.13 936.97 940.29 1,070.26 1,171.72 
			 Swindon PCT n/a 924.99 1,087.42 1,108.43 1,178.02 
			 Taunton Deane PCT n/a 881.51 994.49 1,086.69 1,208.73 
			 Teignbridge PCT 724.59 920.00 988.65 1,176.75 1,254.03 
			 Torbay PCT 713.05 1,095.95 1,069.49 1,194.69 1,303.47 
			 West Gloucestershire PCT n/a 881.42 965.54 1,125.89 1,215.48 
			 West of Cornwall PCT 597.82 922.73 1,027.08 1,161.04 1,269.62 
			 West Wiltshire PCT 663.41 806.19 858.43 970.43 1,084.48 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Spend per head in Primary Care Trusts 2006-07 to 2007-08 
			  £ 
			  PCT name  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Bath and North East Somerset PCT 1,178.32 1,271.20 
			 Bournemouth and Poole PCT 1,295.07 1,397.54 
			 Bristol PCT 1,360.55 1,542.74 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly PCT 1,240.05 1,417.12 
			 Devon PCT 1,286.92 1,410.25 
			 Dorset PCT 1,248.86 1,371.87 
			 Gloucestershire PCT 1,190.68 1,297.50 
			 North Somerset PCT 1,243.56 1,381.53 
			 Plymouth Teaching PCT 1,382.88 1,497.40 
			 Somerset PCT 1,229.22 1,337.75 
			 South Gloucestershire PCT 1,170.28 1,254.85 
			 Swindon PCT 1,200.43 1,322.45 
			 Torbay Care PCT 1,358.22 1,543.58 
			 Wiltshire PCT 1,136.41 1,200.34 
			  Notes: 1. The England figure includes expenditure reported in the audited health authority and strategic health authority summarisation schedules for 1997-98 to 2007-08, plus the audited PCT summarisation schedules 2001-02 to 2007-08 and the dental and pharmaceutical services expenditure for England reported by the former Dental Practice Board and Prescription Pricing Authority and the current NHS Business Services Authority. 2. PCT expenditure is from the audited summarisation schedules 2001-02 to 2007-08. 3. Population figures are ONS estimates 1997-98 to 2007-08. 4. Note that the expenditure reported by PCTs does not represent all NHS spending, e.g. strategic health authority and dental and pharmaceutical services expenditure is not included, therefore figures for the PCTs are not comparable with the all England totals. 5. Two tables have been provided for the PCTs owing to the reorganisation of the NHS in 2006 resulting in mainly new merged PCTs.

Hepatitis

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of prevalence of hepatitis B in each primary care trust; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates of hepatitis B prevalence at primary care trust level are not available. The Department estimates that about 0.3 per cent. of the United Kingdom population is chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (about 180,000 people).

Hepatitis

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to commission research in the next 12 months on the anticipated incidence of all types of chronic hepatitis B over the next decade; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Medical Research Council funds a portfolio of basic and underpinning research relating to chronic hepatitis B, which may lead to further understanding of the condition. Research specifically related to the anticipated incidence of chronic hepatitis B over the next decade in this country is not currently being funded.
	The Health Protection Agency gathers information on a sample proportion of persons in the United Kingdom infected with and affected by chronic viral hepatitis as part of its remit for monitoring infectious disease in this country. This information includes analysis of hepatitis B virus both for definition of the type and for evidence of drug resistance.

Hepatitis

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many notifications there were for  (a) hepatitis A,  (b) chronic hepatitis B,  (c) hepatitis C,  (d) hepatitis D,  (e) hepatitis E,  (f) hepatitis F,  (g) hepatitis G and  (h) hepatitis H in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested for hepatitis A, and acute and chronic hepatitis B and C is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Statutory notifications of hepatitis A, B and C, annual totals, England and Wales; 2000 to 2007 
			   Hepatitis A notifications  Hepatitis B notifications  Hepatitis C notifications 
			 2000 1,271 1,035 1,042 
			 2001 1,138 1,028 1,061 
			 2002 1,381 1,073 1,340 
			 2003 1,194 1,151 1,574 
			 2004 784 1,215 1,851 
			 2005 513 1,325 2,120 
			 2006 433 1,165 2,194 
			 2007 333 1,265 2,040 
			  Notes: 1. Viral hepatitis is a notifiable disease. A registered medical practitioner attending a patient is under a statutory requirement to notify cases or suspected cases of viral hepatitis to the proper officer. 2. Data on hepatitis D are not collected. Hepatitis D is a defective virus that replicates only in the presence of the hepatitis B virus. 3. Notifications of hepatitis E are not recorded separately and are included under the category of other viral hepatitis. 4. Hepatitis F is a hypothetical hepatitis virus. Several hepatitis F virus candidates emerged in the 1990s. Further investigations failed to confirm the existence of the virus, and it was delisted as a cause of infectious hepatitis. 5. Data are not routinely collected on hepatitis G. Extensive worldwide investigation has failed to identify any association between the hepatitis G virus and hepatitis, and its clinical significance is unknown. 6. There is currently no virus designated as hepatitis H.  Source:  Health Protection Agency

Home Care Services

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people seeking registration as domiciliary care providers in each region  (a) met and  (b) did not meet the required standard at each stage in the registration process in each of the last five years.

Phil Hope: We are informed by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) that the information requested on how many applications for registration as domiciliary care agencies were successful at each stage of the process is not collected.
	The following table shows the numbers of applications for registration which were approved and refused by CSCI or withdrawn by the applicant(s) in each of the last five years.
	
		
			  Service applications for domiciliary care agencies 
			   Approved  Refused  Withdrawn 
			 2004-05 739 5 45 
			 2005-06 646 11 32 
			 2006-07 510 4 37 
			 2007-08 526 6 29 
			 2008-09 214 4 18 
			 Total 2,635 30 161

Incontinence: Medical Equipment

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) healthcare professionals,  (b) primary care trust representatives,  (c) strategic health authority representatives,  (d) patients and  (e) others responded to the June 2008 consultation on changes to Part IX of the Drug Tariff; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Department received 85 formal responses to the June consultation entitled "Proposed new arrangements under Part IX of the Drug Tariff for the provision of stoma and urology appliances—and related services—in Primary Care. June 2008". A breakdown is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Respondent  Number 
			 Health care professionals 13 
			 Primary care trust representatives 18 
			 Strategic health authority representatives 0 
			 Patients 16 
			 Others 38 
			 Total 85

Influenza: Vaccination

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people received the influenza vaccination in each of the last five years, broken down by  (a) age group and  (b) primary care trust.

Dawn Primarolo: There are two age groups in the influenza vaccination programme; all people aged 65 years and over; those aged under 65 years in a clinical risk group.
	This information is contained in the following documents which have been placed in the Library.
	Vaccination uptake among the 65 years and over and under 65 years at risk in England 2007-08;
	Vaccination uptake among the 65 years and over and under 65 years at risk in England 2006-07;
	Influenza vaccine uptake in patients aged 65 years and over and under 65s at risk, England 2005-06; and
	Influenza vaccine uptake in patients aged 65 years and over and under 65s at risk, England 2004-05.
	Data for the 2008-09 season will be available in the new year.

Influenza: Vaccination

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on reducing the age limit to 60 years for free influenza injections; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I can confirm that the Department has received correspondence on this issue and these have been and continue to be responded to, but there have been no recent meetings.
	The aim of the influenza immunisation policy is to reduce the serious morbidity and mortality due to influenza by immunising those people most likely to have a severe or complicated illness due to influenza.
	The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) keeps the risk groups recommended influenza vaccination under regular review. This includes the review of risk groups recommended influenza vaccination because of a clinical condition and also the review of the most appropriate age(s) at which to recommend influenza vaccination.

Learning Disability: Health Services

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent steps the Government have taken to improve the quality of care provided to patients with learning disabilities;
	(2)  what steps the Government plan to take to train NHS medical staff to improve services for patients with learning disabilities.

Phil Hope: "Promoting Equality" (2007), which has been placed in the Library, sets out the Department's action plan to improve access to and quality of health care for people with learning disabilities. Since then, we have taken a number of steps to improve the NHS's response for people with learning disabilities.
	The NHS Operating Framework for 2008-09 (a copy of which has already been placed in the Library) challenges primary care trusts to take local action to improve the quality of national health service care and equality of access to care for people with learning disabilities. This includes developing and implementing personalised plans to address the health and care needs of people with learning disabilities. We have recently agreed new arrangements for general practitioner practices to provide annual health checks for people with learning disabilities known to local authorities. We have also launched a national awareness and education programme for the NHS about the Disability Equality Duty.
	With regard to training for medical staff, the Department is currently considering how best to work with education commissioners and education providers to ensure that training for doctors and other health care professions addresses the needs of people with learning disabilities.
	Our forthcoming strategy on learning disabilities will respond in full to the recommendations of the Independent Inquiry on Access to Healthcare for People with Learning Disabilities and will set out further steps to address these issues.

Mental Health Services: Greater London

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued to London local authorities on the provision of move-on accommodation for residents of specialist mental health hostels in London.

Phil Hope: The Department has not issued any guidance to London local authorities on the provision of move-on accommodation for residents of specialist mental health hostels in London.

Mental Health Services: Greater London

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has given to  (a) primary care trusts and  (b) local authorities in London on (i) the assessment of mental health needs in their catchment areas and (ii) the allocation of appropriate levels of funding.

Phil Hope: Since 1 April 2008, local authorities and primary care trusts (PCTs) have been under a statutory duty to produce a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) to establish the current and future health and wellbeing needs of their population, which includes mental health needs. Guidance on Joint Strategic Needs Assessment was published in December 2007, following consultation on the Commissioning Framework for Health and Wellbeing. This has been placed in the Library and is available on the Department's website at:
	http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_081097
	Responsibility for the provision of all national health service services, including mental health treatments, now rests with PCTs. Decisions about spending on treating specific conditions, including mental health, are made by each PCT and it is for PCTs, in conjunction with their strategic health authorities, to plan and develop services according to the needs of local communities across England.

Mental Health Services: Islington

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many residents of the London Borough of Islington have received assistance for mental illness in each year since 1998; how many in each year received  (a) GP counselling,  (b) specialist counselling,  (c) residence in specialist hostels and  (d) hospital accommodation; and what estimate he has made of the level of support required in 2008-09.

Phil Hope: Information is not available in the format requested. The following table shows the number of finished mental health consultant episodes for patients where the local authority of residence was Islington for each year since 1998 to 2006-07 which are the latest data available.
	
		
			   Finished consultant episodes 
			 1998-99 1,341 
			 1999-2000 1,268 
			 2000-01 1,135 
			 2001-02 1,151 
			 2002-03 1,060 
			 2003-04 1,123 
			 2004-05 1,166 
			 2005-06 982 
			 2006-07 1,239 
			  Notes:  Finished Consultant Episode (FCE): A finished consultant episode (FCE) is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which the FCE finishes. Please note that the figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year.  Consultant Main Specialty: This defines the specialty under which the consultant responsible for care of the patient is contracted. Care is needed when analysing HES data by specialty, or by groups of specialties (such as acute). Trusts have different ways of managing specialties and attributing codes so it is better to analyse by specific diagnoses, operations or other recorded information. Consultant main specialties included: 710 = Mental illness 711 = Child and adolescent psychiatry 712 = Forensic psychiatry 713 = Psychotherapy 715 = Old age psychiatry (available from 1990-91).  Data Quality: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. Data are also received from a number of independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  Assessing growth through time: HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. During the years that these records have been collected by the NHS, there have been ongoing improvements in quality and coverage. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Some of the increase in figures for later years (particularly 2006-07 onwards) may be due to the improvement in the coverage of independent sector activity. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example, a number of procedures may now be undertaken in out-patient settings and may no longer be accounted for in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time.  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), the NHS Information Centre for health and social care.

Mentally Ill Staff

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department has gathered on the effect of its policies and practices on the recruitment, development and retention of employees with mental illnesses within  (a) his Department and  (b) the public sector bodies for which he has responsibility; and what use has been made of that information.

Ben Bradshaw: As prescribed by best practice, the Department uses the social model of disability to monitor adverse/positive impact of its policies. This limits the amount of specific evidence that can be drawn about mental health issues through routine employee monitoring exercises. However, the Department gathers relevant information through analysis of sickness absence statistics; reviews of trends emerging from casework; and regular liaison with the staff disability network. These data are used to inform the development of new policies and the review of those in existence. The policies which directly affect the recruitment, development and retention of employees with mental illness are those covering recruitment and selection, training and performance management. All policies are equality impact assessed and build in 'reasonable adjustment' provision for people with disabilities, including mental health issues. There is now a separate mental health policy which promotes positive attitudes in this area and provides guidance which is designed to enable employees to remain in the work-place, wherever possible. These policies and processes apply to the Department's agencies.

Mentally Incapacitated: Protection

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the role of the No Secrets Guidance Programme Board is;
	(2)  how many times the advisory group established as part of his Department's consultation on the review of guidance on developing and implementing multi-agency policies and procedures to protect vulnerable adults from abuse has met to date; and what plans there are to convene meetings during the consultation period;
	(3)  if he will publish the information collected by his Department during the listening events organised to inform the drafting of the consultation on the proposed review of guidance on developing and implementing multi-agency procedures to protect vulnerable adults from abuse;
	(4)  which Minister authorised the issue of the consultation document on his Department's proposed review of guidance on developing multi-agency policies and procedures to protect vulnerable adults from abuse;
	(5)  what recent discussions his Department has had with  (a) Scottish Executive officials and  (b) non-governmental organisations in Scotland on the (i) enactment and (ii) implementation of legislation to protect vulnerable adults.

Phil Hope: On 16 October 2008, as part of the review of the local safeguarding guidance, "No Secrets", the Government launched a public consultation, "Safeguarding Adults: A consultation on the Review of the 'No Secrets' Guidance". A copy has already been placed in the Library and on the Department's website at
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_089098
	The Department is leading the review, but it is a joint consultation document with the Ministry of Justice, the Solicitor General and the Home Office. It is authorised by all four Ministers.
	The role of the Programme Board is to oversee the review of "No Secrets", including the consultation. The Advisory Group has met three times so far and it will meet at key points throughout the review.
	The aim of the listening events was to draw out key themes and issues in order to identify the key questions that the review should address. These have been published in the consultation document.
	Departmental officials spent a day in Scotland meeting a range of stakeholders, including Scottish officials, to discuss the Scottish legislation.

NHS: Drugs

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of possible medicine shortages in the winter of 2008-09; and which drugs he expects will be most affected.

Dawn Primarolo: There are a number of reasons why medicines shortages may occur and often it is not possible to predict them. The Department and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry have published joint best practice guidelines in order to help manage shortages if they arise. These guidelines give guidance to companies and recommend that companies communicate with the Department as soon as possible about impending shortages that may have an impact on patient care.

NHS: Standards

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to improve performance in those trusts rated double weak in the Healthcare Commission's Annual Health Check for 2007-08.

Ben Bradshaw: Action has already been taken to address performance in the small number of 'double weak' organisations. Organisations have been asked to draw up action plans—to be agreed with strategic health authorities (SHAs) and to be published on their website by 23 October. These plans will detail how action is being taken to improve performance. In addition, Executives will be meeting with senior departmental officials, accompanied by the relevant SHA (and primary care trust where relevant) chief executives.
	All action plans will be monitored by the SHA and progress will form part of the performance management discussions between SHAs and the Department.
	From April 2009, those 'weak' organisations failing to demonstrate improvement will also be subjected to intervention under the NHS Performance Regime.

Pharmacy: Hertfordshire

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many licensed pharmacies there are in  (a) Hemel Hempstead and  (b) West Hertfordshire primary care trust.

Phil Hope: This information is collected only at primary care trust (PCT) level. There were 123 community pharmacies in West Hertfordshire PCT providing national health service pharmaceutical services at 31 March 2007—the latest period for which information is available.

Pharmacy: General Practitioners

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many GP dispensaries there are in  (a) Hemel Hempstead and  (b) West Hertfordshire primary care trust.

Phil Hope: Data are only available by primary care trust (PCT) area. The latest available data from the Exeter Payment System show that West Hertfordshire PCT area had three dispensing general practitioner practices in 2006-07.

Pharmacy: Licensing

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many pharmaceutical licences have been awarded under section 13 of the NHS (Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2005 in  (a) Hemel Hempstead and  (b) West Hertfordshire primary care trust.

Phil Hope: This information is collected only at primary care trust (PCT) level. Four pharmacy applications under Regulation 13 of the 2005 Regulations were granted in the period 2005-06 to 2006-07 in West Hertfordshire PCT and its predecessor organisations (Hertsmere, Watford and Three Rivers, Dacorum and St. Albans and Harpenden PCTs). Information for 2007-08 is not yet available.

Portsmouth Hospitals Trust: Compensation

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much compensation was paid to patients of the Portsmouth Hospitals Trust in each of the last three years; and what legal costs were incurred in each case.

Ann Keen: The information requested is in the following table and was obtained from the NHS Litigation Authority.
	
		
			  Compensation and legal costs paid out by Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust by year 
			  £ 
			   Damages  Defence costs  Claimant costs  Total paid 
			 2005-06 1,359,417 256,440 441,049 2,056,905 
			 2006-07 5,543,178 369,069 385,606 6,297,852 
			 2007-08 1,830,083 438,355 1,107,498 3,375,937 
			 Total paid 8,732,678 1,063,864 1,934,153 11,730,695

Primary Care Trusts: Finance

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 14 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 1180-3W, on primary care trusts: finance, what definition his Department uses of top-slicing; and how much was top-sliced from primary care trusts to strategic health authorities at the end of the  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08 financial years.

Ben Bradshaw: A top-slice is where a proportion of a primary care trust's (PCTs) allocation is held within a local strategic reserve to ensure the delivery of the overall financial position within that health economy. Since 2006-07, strategic health authorities (SHAs) have been able to determine and agree with PCTs the arrangements for top-slicing or voluntary lodgements to be held within the local strategic reserve.
	I also refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr. Lansley) on 6 October 2008,  Official Report, column 454W, which provides top-slice figures held by SHAs at the end of 2006-07 and 2007-08 financial years.

Smoking

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional steps the Government plan to take to encourage smokers to stop smoking.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government have committed to developing a new national tobacco control strategy to build on the achievements made since the publication of the "Smoking Kills" White paper in 1998 (which has already been placed in the Library).
	The "Consultation on the future of tobacco control", which has already been placed in the Library, closed on 8 September and is the first stage in developing this new strategy. The Department is currently considering responses to this consultation.
	A publication date for the new strategy will be announced in due course.

Social Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people who sold their home to pay for social care in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by local authority area.

Phil Hope: The Government have taken steps to help people avoid having to sell their homes during their lifetime to pay for residential care. Since October 2001, local councils have been able to enter into a deferred payments agreement with people about to enter residential care. This allows people with property, but without income and other assets sufficient to meet their assessed financial contribution to the cost of residential care, to have a legal charge placed on their property to meet any shortfall. The local council then meets the cost of the person's residential care and reclaims the debt from the person's estate when their affairs are wound up. This gives people more options for meeting care home fees and avoids the need for their property to be sold during their lifetime.
	Information about the sale of property to pay for residential care by service users supported by councils is not collected centrally. Local authorities also may not know if this has happened in the case of those who arrange their own care, for example, where a person sells a property and contracts with a care provider privately without involving social services. It is not, therefore, possible to estimate the number of homes that may have been sold for this purpose.
	The value of the main residence occupied by a service user receiving home care and other non-residential social services must be disregarded when assessing their ability to pay for services.

Sugar

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the confectionery industry on the sugar content of their products.

Dawn Primarolo: Department Ministers have not had any recent discussions with representatives of the confectionary industry on the sugar content of their products. The Food Standards Agency is in regular contact with the industry on the subject of reducing the sugar content of their products as part of their saturated fat and energy intake programme.

Taxis

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was claimed in expenses for taxi travel by officials from  (a) his Department and  (b) its executive agencies in (i) 2006-07, (ii) 2005-06, (iii) 2004-05, (iv) 2003-04 and (v) 2002-03; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested regarding claims for expenses for the Department and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	For the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency, costs are only available from 1 April 2004 and are as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2004-05 9,920.64 
			 2005-06 13,964.05 
			 2006-07 13,824.40 
		
	
	The Department has a contract for taxis which is paid for centrally. Expenditure has been:
	
		
			  £ 
			  Financial year  DH  MHRA 
			 2006-07 306,252.56 16,125.21 
			 2005-06 420,699.21 4,345.74 
			 2004-05 550,222.13 4,846.75 
			 2003-04 497,661.57 3,466.73 
			 2002-03 344,662.39 1,956.99

Teenage Pregnancy

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to evaluate the effect of the £26 million allocated to primary care trusts for programmes to reduce teenage pregnancies.

Dawn Primarolo: We are taking a number of actions to monitor the outcomes of this new investment. The South West Public Health Observatory have been commissioned to develop a balanced score card for sexual health which will monitor a range of indicators at primary care trust, strategic health authority (SHA) and national level. This will be available during 2009 and the first phase will focus on outcomes for young people. In addition, a memorandum of understanding is being put in place between the SHAs and the Department, with quarterly reporting on progress against plans.

Tobacco

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what negotiating mandate he has given to his Department's officials for the conference of the parties on the framework convention on tobacco control; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the mandate;
	(2)  what procedures he has put in place to ensure that Government policy on tobacco control forms the basis of his officials' work in negotiations in  (a) the European Union and  (b) the conference of the parties on the framework convention on tobacco control; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The negotiations on the framework convention on tobacco control are currently ongoing at European Union level. At the third conference of parties the UK Government, along with EU counterparts, will be negotiating for the most effective global tobacco control. The UK Government are represented by the Department in these negotiations. The Department works across Government to ensure we achieve the most effective global tobacco control guidelines in line with agreed national policy on tobacco control.

Trade Unions

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many civil servants in his Department were seconded to work for  (a) trade unions and  (b) the Trades Union Congress in each year since 2003.

Ben Bradshaw: No civil servants in the Department have been seconded to work for trade unions or the Trades Union Congress since 2003.

Wines

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's practice is on supplying non-alcoholic wine as a choice at official receptions or functions.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department's catering policy has no rule on the provision of non-alcoholic wine. This is a choice for the person organising any event.

PRIME MINISTER

Departmental Training

Greg Hands: To ask the Prime Minister what personal training courses at public expense he has undertaken since his appointment.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 8 October 2008,  Official Report, column 617W.

Government Departments: Appointments

Greg Hands: To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library copies of replies to his letters of appointment to  (a) the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change and  (b) Ministers in that Department.

Gordon Brown: During the recent reshuffle I spoke to Ministers and discussed the Government's priorities, but did not exchange letters of appointment.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Prime Minister whether he has commissioned any studies into lessons learnt from the UK's military and humanitarian efforts in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan since June 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Gordon Brown: We review every aspect of our military and humanitarian efforts on a continuous basis, both to determine requirements and to learn lessons for future practice, drawing on the experience of military commanders and civilian personnel in theatre.

Israel

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with Prime Minister Olmert on the release of Palestinian parliamentarians held in Israeli prisons;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with Prime Minister Olmert on  (a) the accession of Israel to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and  (b) proposals for a middle east nuclear-free zone; and if he will make a statement.

Gordon Brown: I discussed a wide range of issues with Prime Minister Olmert on my recent visit to Israel. In addition, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Southend, West (Mr. Amess) on 23 October 2008,  Official Report, column 555W.

Olympic Games

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Prime Minister how many  (a) Ministers,  (b) Opposition politicians and  (c) members of the (i) London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games, (ii) Olympic Delivery Authority and (iii) British Olympic Authority boards were invited to the reception for Team GB at 10 Downing Street following the Beijing Olympics.

Gordon Brown: I hosted a reception for Team GB at Lancaster House. Guests were invited from a range of political and sporting fields including those involved in the preparations for London 2012.

Regional Economic Council

Eric Pickles: To ask the Prime Minister who the members are of the  (a) Regional Economic Council and  (b) Regional Council; and whether multiple regional councils will be put in place for each Government office region.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the press notice released by my Office. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House and are also available on the No. 10 website:
	http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page17067

Special Ministerial Policy Advisers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 22 July 2008,  Official Report, columns 99-102WS, whether Mr. Ravi Gurumurthy was in post as a special adviser on 22 July 2008.

Gordon Brown: No.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Departmental Public Expenditure

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the cost to the public purse of his Department was in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08.

Douglas Alexander: Total departmental spending figures are shown in Annex 2, Table 1 of the Department's Annual Report 2008 (HC 492), published in May 2008. The Annual Report is available in the Library of the House and online:
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/Pubs/files/departmental-report/2008/default.asp

Departmental Security

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many security passes have been reported  (a) lost and  (b) stolen by staff in his Department in each year since 2001.

Douglas Alexander: A total of 130 passes have been reported as lost or stolen by UK Department for International Development (DFID) staff since June 2006; of these 126 were lost and four stolen. For the period February 2004 to July 2006, please see the answer given to the hon. Member for North Southwark and Bermondsey (Simon Hughes) on 25 July 2006,  Official Report, column 1625W. No data are available before this date.

Humanitarian Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 13 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 991-92W, on humanitarian aid, what measures are in place to ensure his Department adheres to the 23 principles of good humanitarian donorship in  (a) Bangladesh,  (b) Nigeria and  (c) Sierra Leone.

Michael Foster: The principles of Good Humanitarian Donorship (GHD) are a central pillar of the Department for International Development's (DFID) Humanitarian Policy. Guidelines such as DFID's Humanitarian Funding Guidelines for NGOs also ensure that the GHD principles inform our funding decisions.
	In Bangladesh, DFID is actively involved in:
	(a) disaster preparedness and management (GHD principle 8);
	(b) funding of relief operations as needed, channelling through UN nationally and NGOs (guided by DFID's humanitarian policy); and
	(c) early recovery and assessments on reconstruction/rehabilitation (GHD principle 9).
	In Nigeria and Sierra Leone, DFID does not currently provide humanitarian aid. In both cases DFID, through its development programme, works closely with partners including the UN, other donors and partner Governments to reduce the risk of disaster, to prevent the re-emergence of conflict, and to foster a greater adherence to all aid effectiveness principles.

Mentally Ill Staff

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions his Department has had with other Government Departments on the steps it is taking, including through its Mental Health Communication Strategy, to combat stigma against and provide support for its employees with mental illnesses.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) is part of the Business Well-being Network which liaises with other Government Departments and the private sector to ensure an inclusive and cohesive approach to provide support and combat stigma for its employees with mental illness. This network takes a strategic, integrated approach to the management of well-being at work in order to reap the proven benefits associated with a healthy and engaged work force.
	DFID's Mental Health Communication Strategy culminated in the launch of a Better Balance campaign in July 2007. The campaign focused on work place pressure, health and well-being, lifestyle and any significant influences that may impact on physical or mental health of staff and their ability to remain effective at work.

Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the UK's total net official development assistance contribution was as a percentage of gross national income in each year since 2005.

Douglas Alexander: Details on the UK's Official Development Assistance (ODA) for the period 2005 to 2007 were published in the DFID publication 'Statistics on International Development 2008'. This publication is available through DFID's website:
	www.dfid.gov.uk

Overseas Aid

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much UK Government development aid and assistance was given to  (a) India and  (b) China in the latest year for which figures are available.

Douglas Alexander: Total UK development expenditure, including an imputed share of multilateral Official Development Assistance, in India and China in 2006-07 was £375.4 million and £72.2 million respectively.
	The Department for International Development (DFID) will end its bilateral assistance to China in 2011.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Tackling Knives Action Programme

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made on the Tackling Knives Action Programme; and if she will make a statement.

Meg Hillier: Since 5 June we have focused £2 million on intense work in 10 areas to tackle teenage knife crime, including prevention and focused enforcement. A further £3 million is being provided for after-school patrols, safer schools partnerships and Operation Staysafe in TKAP areas.
	Stop and search and test purchase operations are being conducted, and the "It Doesn't Have to Happen" anti-knife crime campaign continues to grow.

Criminal Activity: Publication of Details

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with representatives of local newspapers on police force policies on the publication of details of individual incidents of criminal activity.

Vernon Coaker: All forces provide local crime information on their websites every month and, through the Policing Pledge, they are committed to publishing neighbourhood crime maps by December 2008.
	Police forces cannot provide information about crimes in every case because there are individual privacy issues which they must rightly consider.

Knife Crime

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of measures to reduce knife crime.

Meg Hillier: In April 2007 we introduced the collection of information on knife-related offences as part of police recorded crime data.
	Since the start of the Tackling Knives Action Programme in June 2008, the numbers remanded in prison for weapons possession has doubled and the proportion sent to prison has increased by almost a third compared to last year. Nearly 100,000 people have been stopped and searched and almost 2,200 knives recovered.

Scientific Procedures on Animals

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the likely number of scientific procedures on animals which will be carried out in 2009-10.

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the likely number of scientific procedures on animals which will be carried out in 2009-10.

Meg Hillier: Animal experiments continue to be a vital tool in developing improvements in health care, and in protecting people and the environment from other hazards.
	I would expect the number of animal procedures carried out in 2009-10 to remain at or around the current level of 3.2 million per year.

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes to immigration legislation, guidance and practice will be introduced following the Government's decision to remove its reservations to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Phil Woolas: The UK Border Agency's treatment of children must be as sensitive as possible.
	We have transformed our children's policy, introducing a code of practice and have even legislated to impose a duty on UKBA to take appropriate steps to ensure that while children are in the UK they are safe from harm.
	Withdrawing the reservation was made possible largely because of developments in child protection arrangements since 1991. No additional changes to legislation, guidance and/or practice are currently envisaged as a result of its removal.

DNA Samples

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions for serious crimes are recorded as substantially based on evidence provided by the retention of DNA samples in 2007-08.

Alan Campbell: Data are available on the number of detections with DNA, but not the number of convictions. In 2007-08, 83 serious violent crimes and 184 rapes were detected in which a DNA match was available. It is not possible to say whether the DNA match was the key factor in solving the crime.

Alcohol Misuse

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health on informing young people of the dangers of alcohol misuse as part of the Government's strategy on alcohol abuse.

Alan Campbell: Home Office Ministers have regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Health, and with other Departments in relation to young people as part of the Government's Alcohol Strategy 'Safe.Sensible.Social'. The most recent meeting that took place was prior to the launch of the Youth Alcohol Action Plan earlier this year, when we informed our colleagues in other Departments about the development of the plan.

Safer Neighbourhood Teams: West Yorkshire

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many safer neighbourhood teams have been introduced in West Yorkshire since 2002.

Alan Campbell: Since April 2008 every area in England and Wales has had a neighbourhood policing team. There are currently 47 safer neighbourhood teams in West Yorkshire police.

Overseas Workers: Visas

Andrew MacKay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many overseas workers were granted visas to enter the UK in the last 12 months; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Between October 2007 and September 2008, around 57,000 visas were granted to overseas nationals with Home Office work permits. In addition, over 39,000 visas were issued in permit-free employment categories.
	Had the new points bases system been in place last year there would have been 12 per cent. fewer people coming in to work through the equivalent work permit route.

Victims of Crime: Female Prostitutes

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to prevent female prostitutes from becoming victims of crime.

Alan Campbell: Prostitution is inherently dangerous, and the most effective way to prevent those involved from becoming victims of crime is to help them to leave prostitution.
	Our prostitution strategy provides a framework for local areas to develop their own strategies, including the provision of tailored support for those involved in prostitution.

Violent Crime: Plymouth

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of trends in the level of violent crime in Plymouth.

Vernon Coaker: There was a 6 per cent. reduction in 'Violence against the Person' offences within Plymouth between 2006-07 and 2007-08 (from 6,114 to 5,761). Plymouth has been supported by the Government's Tackling Violent Crime Programme to effectively tackle night-time violence with the city and to develop innovative responses to domestic violence.

Police Community Support Officers

David Borrow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effect of the work of police community support officers on crime levels.

Vernon Coaker: In January 2006 the Home Office published an evaluation of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) which found that PCSOs were valued by the police, the public and businesses for their visibility and accessibility.
	We recognise the need for greater clarity and standardisation around the role—including uniform and powers—therefore a further evaluation and consultation on PCSO powers is under way and will report back in December.

Antisocial Behaviour

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to deal with those who persist in antisocial behaviour.

Alan Campbell: We have put in place powerful tools to tackle disorder, including the new power to close premises where there is persistent antisocial behaviour which commences on 1 December. We have also launched the new antisocial behaviour squad to help local agencies make best use of the full range of tools and powers to tackle perpetrators who persist in antisocial behaviour.

Antisocial Behaviour

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what steps she is taking to ensure that the police, local authorities and other interested agencies work together to address antisocial behaviour;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the use of the powers available to address antisocial behaviour;
	(3)  what future steps the Government plan to take to prevent antisocial behaviour.

Alan Campbell: No one should have to put up with antisocial behaviour. I want communities to know that the Government are firmly on their side and are turning the tables on those who persistently make others' lives a misery.
	We have put in place powerful tools to tackle antisocial behaviour. Three independent reports including the Home Affairs Select Committee report (2005), the Audit Commission report (May 2006) and the NAO report (December 2006) have confirmed that they work. Indeed the NAO reported that 65 per cent. of people stop committing antisocial behaviour after intervention one rising to 93 per cent. after intervention three. Latest figures available show that local agencies across the country used these tools and powers available to tackle antisocial behaviour more than 16,000 times between April and June 2008.
	People's fear of antisocial behaviour has fallen. The British Crime Survey shows a reduction in the proportion of people with a high level of perceived antisocial behaviour from 21 per cent. in 2002-03 to 16 per cent. in 2007-08.
	Successful delivery of any local antisocial behaviour strategy depends on effective partnership working through Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships. To assist this work, the Home Office has renewed the funding for antisocial behaviour co-ordinators for the period 2008-11 and created powerful tools to tackle disorder, including the new power to close premises where there is persistent antisocial behaviour. This new power will commence on 1 December and the statutory guidance sets out the obligations on the police and local authorities to consult each other and the advisability of consulting others. We have also launched the new antisocial behaviour squad to help local agencies make best use of the full range of tools and powers to tackle perpetrators who persist in antisocial behaviour. Furthermore we are consulting the public on antisocial behaviour on public transport.

Asylum: Cameroon

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she or her predecessor last discussed the issue of Cameroonian citizens seeking asylum in the UK with the Cameroonian High Commissioner.

Phil Woolas: The previous Home Secretary did not meet the Cameroonian High Commissioner to talk about Cameroonian citizens seeking asylum in the UK.

British Nationality: Right of Abode

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate her Department has made of the number of  (a) British Overseas Citizens,  (b) British Nationals (Overseas) and  (c) other British nationals who do not have a right of abode in the UK.

Phil Woolas: This information is not readily available and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Older records are not held on computer and so an estimate would involve the examination of individual paper files.

Christmas

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Christmas functions  (a) she,  (b) officials from her Department and  (c) officials from its executive agencies (i) hosted and (ii) attended in 2007-08; what the cost to the public purse was; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is not held centrally and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Community Support Officers: Manpower

Sally Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police community support officers there were per head of population in each police authority area in England and Wales in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: The available data are given in the table.
	
		
			  Number of Police Community Support Officers( 1)  per 100,000 population as at 31 March 2008, by police force area 
			  Police force  PCSOs per 100,000 population 
			 Avon and Somerset 24 
			 Bedfordshire 20 
			 Cambridgeshire 26 
			 Cheshire 23 
			 Cleveland 30 
			 Cumbria 20 
			 Derbyshire 17 
			 Devon and Cornwall 21 
			 Dorset 22 
			 Durham 27 
			 Essex 26 
			 Gloucestershire 28 
			 Greater Manchester 30 
			 Hampshire 18 
			 Hertfordshire 23 
			 Humberside 35 
			 Kent 23 
			 Lancashire 28 
			 Leicestershire 22 
			 Lincolnshire 24 
			 London, City of(2) — 
			 Merseyside 30 
			 Metropolitan Police2 57 
			 Norfolk 33 
			 Northamptonshire 24 
			 Northumbria 18 
			 North Yorkshire 23 
			 Nottinghamshire 25 
			 South Yorkshire 26 
			 Staffordshire 20 
			 Suffolk 20 
			 Surrey 19 
			 Sussex 24 
			 Thames Valley 24 
			 Warwickshire 25 
			 West Mercia 23 
			 West Midlands 29 
			 West Yorkshire 35 
			 Wiltshire 23 
			 Dyfed Powys 14 
			 Gwent 25 
			 North Wales 24 
			 South Wales 27 
			 Total of 43 forces 29 
			 (1) Total Strength given as full-time equivalents. This and other tables contain figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items. (2) Officers per 100,000 population for City of London and Metropolitan Police are combined.

Death: Inquiries

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations she has received on the time taken by the Independent Police Complaints Commission to inquire into the death of Stuart Lubbock.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 23 October 2008
	I have received no representations on this matter. The IPCC investigation is now complete. However, as the investigation report is subject to further legal processes, it would be inappropriate to comment further.

Essex Police Authority: Data Protection

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which  (a) organisations,  (b) agencies and  (c) individuals have (i) partial and (ii) full access to personal data held by Essex police authority; under what conditions such access is given; what legislation regulates such access; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The Home Office does not hold information relating to which individuals or agencies have access to data kept by Essex police authority. Similarly the relevant conditions and legislation depend on what access has been granted. Such issues are a matter for the Essex police authority.

Genetics: Databases

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are profiled on the national DNA database who had samples taken whilst they were under 18 years of age; and how many of these are now adults and have not been charged or cautioned with an offence, broken down by sex.

Meg Hillier: Table 1 shows the numbers of those on the National DNA Database (NDNAD) who were profiled when under 18, regardless of their age now. Table 2 shows the number who are currently under 18. Table 3 shows the number of those who were under 18 at the time they were profiled, but are now over 18. In each case the figures are broken down by sex. 'Unassigned' means that the arresting officer did not complete the section of the form referring to the person's sex. The figures provided are for English and Welsh police forces only, and provide a snapshot of the NDNAD at 14 August 2008.
	The number of profiles on the NDNAD is not the same as the number of individuals as a profile may be a replicate, that is, a profile may have been loaded on more than one occasion. This can occur if a person gives a different name, or different version of their name on separate arrests, or if a profile is upgraded. The current replication rate for the whole NDNAD is 13.3 per cent. The replication rate for various subsections of the NDNAD may differ from this so the figures for individuals are estimates.
	The NDNAD does not hold information on criminal histories; this information is held on the Police National Computer (PNC). Information about the number of persons who were sampled when under 18 and have not been charged or cautioned with an offence could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Table 1: Those whose profile was added to the NDNAD when under 18 (regardless of their current age) 
			  Number 
			  Gender  Total profile count  Estimated individuals 
			 Female 278,940 241,841 
			 Male 779,925 676,195 
			 Unassigned 8,476 7,349 
			 Total 1,067,341 925,385 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Those on the NDNAD who are currently under 18 
			  Number 
			  Gender  Total profile count  Estimated individuals 
			 Female 106,098 91,987 
			 Male 237,117 205,580 
			 Unassigned 1,124 975 
			 Total 344,339 298,542 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Those whose profile was added to the NDNAD when they were under 18 who are now 18 or over 
			  Number 
			  Gender  Total profile count  Estimated individuals 
			 Female 172,842 149,854 
			 Male 542,808 470,615 
			 Unassigned 7,352 6,374 
			 Total 723,002 626,843

Genetics: Databases

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) people and  (b) people aged under 18 years were added to the national DNA database in each year since its inception.

Meg Hillier: The following table shows the number of subject profiles added to the National DNA Database (NDNAD) for English and Welsh police forces, and the number of these for people under the age of 18 years, in each year since its inception. It is not possible to add these figures to give the current position, as some profiles have been removed. The number of subject profiles held on the NDNAD is not the same as the number of individuals with a profile on the NDNAD. As it is possible for profiles from the same person to be loaded on to the NDNAD on more than one occasion, some profiles held on the NDNAD are replicates. This can occur, for example, if the person provided different names, or different versions of their name, on separate arrests, or because profiles are upgraded. The figures provided are for English and Welsh forces only.
	
		
			  Profile load year  Profiles loaded for under-18s  Profiles loaded for all ages 
			 1995-96 5,903 32,598 
			 1996-97 12,982 77,981 
			 1997-98 19,266 122,011 
			 1998-99 39,820 225,369 
			 1999-2000 39,924 189,983 
			 2000-01 83,257 371,839 
			 2001-02 105,464 468,453 
			 2002-03 95,542 444,077 
			 2003-04 94,442 431,677 
			 2004-05 113,311 480,225 
			 2005-06 144,975 625,505 
			 2006-07 149,690 667,252 
			 2007-08 121,805 541,333 
			 2008-09 (to date) 40,515 189,475

Genetics: Databases

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have their DNA profile stored on the national DNA database, broken down by  (a) police force area and  (b) ethnicity.

Meg Hillier: The number of subject profiles held on the National DNA Database (NDNAD) by force in England and Wales, as at 30 June 2008, is shown in Table 1.
	The number of profiles is not the same as the number of individuals. This is because a number of subject profiles on the NDNAD are replicates, that is, a profile for a person has been loaded to the NDNAD on more than one occasion. This may arise for a number of reasons, such as a person giving a different name on different occasions they are arrested, or because of the upgrading of profiles from the SGM to the SGM Plus profiling system. It is estimated that at 30 June 2008,13.3 per cent. of the subject profiles held on the entire NDNAD were replicates.
	However, this rate may vary between police forces, so figures for the number of individuals on the NDNAD are not given for each force.
	The numbers of subject profiles, and individuals, on the NDNAD held by English and Welsh forces as at 16 July 2008, broken down by ethnic appearance, is shown in Table 2. Ethnic appearance is based on the judgment of the police officer taking the sample as to which of six broad ethnic appearance categories the person is considered to belong to. 'Unknown' means that no ethnic appearance information was recorded by the officer taking the sample.
	
		
			  Table 1 
			  Force  Subject Profiles 
			 Avon and Somerset 104,695 
			 Bedfordshire 46,841 
			 British Transport 47,179 
			 Cambridgeshire 55,353 
			 Cheshire 81,848 
			 City of London Police 23,415 
			 Cleveland 53,050 
			 Cumbria 45,695 
			 Derbyshire 89,403 
			 Devon and Cornwall 112,235 
			 Dorset 51,151 
			 Durham 53,573 
			 Dyfed-Powys 50,375 
			 Essex 128,182 
			 Gloucestershire 45,307 
			 Greater Manchester Police 251,024 
			 Gwent 53,019 
			 Hampshire 149,198 
			 Hertfordshire 75,295 
			 Humberside 84,014 
			 Kent 144,523 
			 Lancashire 146,257 
			 Leicestershire 68,500 
			 Lincolnshire 49,053 
			 Merseyside 133,600 
			 Metropolitan Police 831,260 
			 Norfolk 66,503 
			 North Wales 60,093 
			 North Yorkshire 57,799 
			 Northamptonshire 45,094 
			 Northumbria 170,317 
			 Nottinghamshire 100,947 
			 South Wales Constabulary 119,540 
			 South Yorkshire 121,007 
			 Staffordshire 99,157 
			 Suffolk 48,077 
			 Surrey 61,599 
			 Sussex 115,121 
			 Thames Valley 151,278 
			 Warwickshire Police 32,974 
			 West Mercia 78,214 
			 West Midlands 299,446 
			 West Yorkshire 220,649 
			 Wiltshire 50,516 
			 (Total subject profiles 4,872,376 
			 Total individuals 4,224,350 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2 
			  Ethnic Appearance  Subject Profiles  Estimated individuals  Percentage 
			 Unknown 298,891 259,138 6.11 
			 Asian 261,751 226,938 5.35 
			 Black 375,342 325,422 7.67 
			 Chinese, Japanese other SE Asian 30,335 26,300 0.62 
			 Middle Eastern 35,862 31,092 0.73 
			 White - North European 3,800,185 3,294,760 77.66 
			 White - South European 91,103 78,986 1.86 
			 Total 4,893,469 4,242,636 —

Identity Cards: Young People

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department has taken to encourage the use of forms of age verification other than passports; and if she will make it her policy to introduce a national proof of age scheme.

Meg Hillier: The Government's intention to begin offering identity cards to young people in 2010 was announced in the National Identity Scheme Delivery Plan published in March this year. Holders will be able to use identity cards as proof of age, as well as using them to prove their identity when opening bank accounts, taking out student loans or starting employment. There are no plans to discourage the use of passports as evidence of identity including age; these are secure documents issued only after the applicant's identity has been carefully checked.

Oakington Immigration Centre

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many detainees have escaped from Oakington Immigration Centre in Cambridgeshire in the last five years; how many have since been recaptured; how many are still missing as whereabouts unknown; how many of these were illegal immigrants and suspected illegal immigrants; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 20 October 2008
	The number of detainees who have escaped Oakington Immigration Removal Centre in the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2004 12 
			 2005 4 
			 2006 19 
			 2007 63 
			 2008 24(1) 
			 (1) To date 
		
	
	The numbers of detainees who are re-captured are not collated centrally. Each escape is recorded and the case owner notified, should the individual be subsequently re-detained.
	The police are informed immediately when a detainee has escaped and the individuals' details are recorded on the Police National Computer should the individual be apprehended at a later date.

Passports: Fraud

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of  (a) fraudulent and  (b) stolen (i) passports and (ii) driving licences in circulation.

Meg Hillier: The information is as follows:
	 (a) (i) The term "fraudulent passport" can refer to a number of categories of document, e.g. forgery, counterfeit and fraudulently obtained genuine documents, and can be either UK or foreign. There is no estimate for the number of such documents in circulation.
	 (b) (i) The total number of passports reported by holders and recorded by IPS as stolen from 2004 to 2007 is 179,669.
	No estimate has been made of the number of fraudulent or stolen driving licences in circulation.

Passports: Fraud

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passports were issued by the Home Office in  (a) 2007 and  (b) 1997 that later transpired to have been fraudulently applied for.

Meg Hillier: The Identity and Passport Service does not routinely collate information on the year of issue of passports found later to have been issued as result of fraudulent applications. Further, IPS is not always informed when fraudulent passports are identified, seized and taken out of circulation by other agencies in the UK and abroad.

Passports: Northern Ireland

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many passports were issued to residents of Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years, broken down by  (a) constituency,  (b) district council area and  (c) primary postcode.

Meg Hillier: As we do not hold the volume of passports issued broken down in the form requested, we are unable to provide these data.

Personation

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to combat the use of fraudulent identity documents.

Meg Hillier: The use of false identity documentation is a problem which we take very seriously. Our response is led by the UK Border Agency National Document Fraud Unit (NDFU) based at Status Park near Heathrow which is recognised both at home and abroad as the leader in its field. NDFU devises and conducts forgery detection training for all UK Border Agency personnel, ranging from basic training for new entrants, through intermediate to expert level. NDFU also delivers training to the police, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, and the Department for Work and Pensions. This in turn leads to substantial numbers of falsified documents being discovered within the United Kingdom and inhibits the ability of people to adopt false identities.
	The Government are keen to ensure that there are effective deterrents in place for those who use false identity documents. On 7 June 2006 we brought into force section 25 of the Identity Cards Act 2006 which created new criminal offences of being in possession or control of false identity documents. Law enforcement agencies continue to use these and other legislative provisions to undertake investigations and prosecutions against those who manufacture, sell and utilise false identity documents for a variety of criminal purposes.
	In addition, the Passport Validation Service provided by the Identity and Passport Service allows organisations to validate the status of a UK passport that has been presented to them as evidence of identity, and has been operational since July 2006.
	Government are aware that it can be difficult for organisations in the public and private sector to recognise fraudulent identification documents. The implementation of the National Identity Scheme will provide people with a highly secure means of protecting their identity and help citizens to prove their identities easily, quickly and with vastly improved security.

Police Authorities: Bank Services

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was held by each police authority in England and Wales in foreign bank accounts  (a) in each year since 2001 and  (b) at the latest date for which information is available.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is not held centrally.
	This is an operational matter for each police authority and chief constable.

Police Authorities: Bank Services

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much is held by each police authority in England and Wales in  (a) UK and  (b) foreign bank accounts.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is not held centrally.
	This is an operational matter for each police authority and chief constable.

Police: Disciplinary Proceedings

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many homes of serving police officers were searched by investigation teams on 27 January 1998; how many police officers were subsequently suspended from duty; how many of these were  (a) reinstated and  (b) prosecuted; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: This information is not held by the Home Office. These questions are related to operational matters which are the responsibility of the chief constable of the force concerned.

Police: Disciplinary Proceedings

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers  (a) below superintendent rank and  (b) of superintendent rank and above were suspended in each police force area in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: The requested data have been collected centrally since 2002-03 and are given in the following tables.
	
		
			  Police officers (FTE)( 1)  below the rank of superintendent suspended as at 31 March 2003 to 31 March 2008 
			   31 March  each year 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Avon and Somerset 1 3 1 3 0 1 
			 Bedfordshire 1 2 2 0 0 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 3 8 3 0 0 0 
			 Cheshire 1 1 10 10 2 3 
			 Cleveland 6 6 2 0 0 0 
			 Cumbria 0 1 0 1 0 0 
			 Derbyshire 5 3 3 7 7 7 
			 Devon and Cornwall 3 3 6 7 3 10 
			 Dorset 0 1 1 0 0 0 
			 Durham 2 3 4 1 0 2 
			 Dyfed-Powys 0 0 1 0 3 1 
			 Essex 0 4 7 0 4 4 
			 Gloucestershire 2 4 3 2 2 0 
			 Greater Manchester 12 15 32 24 5 16 
			 Gwent 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Hampshire 4 6 11 6 8 5 
			 Hertfordshire 0 1 1 3 2 0 
			 Humberside 3 2 2 1 0 0 
			 Kent 0 0 4 7 9 2 
			 Lancashire 0 2 6 9 4 6 
			 Leicestershire 1 3 0 1 1 2 
			 Lincolnshire 0 1 4 5 6 6 
			 London, City of 0 0 1 3 1 3 
			 Merseyside 6 7 7 7 4 8 
			 Metropolitan police 42 49 27 31 20 21 
			 Norfolk 2 2 3 0 1 6 
			 Northamptonshire 0 0 1 1 1 4 
			 Northumbria 4 3 6 22 4 13 
			 North Wales 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 North Yorkshire 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Nottinghamshire 0 3 2 6 4 3 
			 South Wales 13 5 8 10 8 8 
			 South Yorkshire 0 0 3 0 2 3 
			 Staffordshire 0 1 2 0 0 3 
			 Suffolk 3 0 5 1 0 2 
			 Surrey 1 2 2 0 0 0 
			 Sussex 0 0 7 8 11 3 
			 Thames Valley 2 8 11 1 1 0 
			 Warwickshire 3 7 4 3 2 2 
			 West Mercia 4 6 0 5 2 0 
			 West Midlands 0 0 0 0 18 2 
			 West Yorkshire 13 3 12 7 3 6 
			 Wiltshire 0 0 0 1 2 1 
			 (1) Based on full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. 
		
	
	
		
			  Police officers (FTE)( 1)  at or above the rank of superintendent suspended as at 31 March 2003 to 31 March 2008 
			   31 March each year 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Avon and Somerset 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Bedfordshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Cheshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Cleveland 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Cumbria 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Derbyshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Devon and Cornwall 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Dorset 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Durham 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Dyfed-Powys 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Essex 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Gloucestershire 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Greater Manchester 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Gwent 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Hampshire 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Hertfordshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Humberside 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Kent 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Lancashire 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Leicestershire 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Lincolnshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 London, City of 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Merseyside 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Metropolitan police 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Norfolk 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Northamptonshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Northumbria 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North Wales 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North Yorkshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Nottinghamshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 South Wales 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 South Yorkshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Staffordshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Suffolk 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Surrey 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Sussex 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Thames Valley 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Warwickshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 West Mercia 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 West Midlands 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 West Yorkshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Wiltshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 (1) Based on full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number.

Police: Disciplinary Proceedings

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 15 October 2008,  Official Report, column 1272W, on police: disciplinary proceedings, from what date each officer had been on suspension, how much pay each officer was receiving while on suspension; what rank each was; and whether any were suspended due to allegations of racism.

Vernon Coaker: Five of the suspended officers were constables and the sixth was a sergeant.
	Information requested on dates of suspension, pay whilst being suspended, and reasons for suspension are not centrally collected.

Police: Finance

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the budget is for each police authority in England and Wales in 2008-09.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Police authority budgets, 2008-09 
			  Police authority  Budget requirement 2008-09 (£) 
			 Avon and Somerset 259,473,100 
			 Bedfordshire 96,055,889 
			 Cambridgeshire 120,650,227 
			 Cheshire 168,058,000 
			 Cleveland 124,622,988 
			 Cumbria 97,395,323 
			 Derbyshire 157,222,626 
			 Devon and Cornwall 268,084,994 
			 Dorset 111,791,785 
			 Durham 116,116,610 
			 Dyfed-Powys 86,957,659 
			 Essex 251,075,570 
			 Gloucestershire 99,142,500 
			 Greater Manchester 544,927,088 
			 Gwent 114,300,881 
			 Hampshire 294,186,000 
			 Hertfordshire 178,222,475 
			 Humberside 169,697,637 
			 Kent 266,880,000 
			 Lancashire 262,071,000 
			 Leicestershire 164,695,837 
			 Lincolnshire 100,638,000 
			 Merseyside 317,100,260 
			 Metropolitan 2,595,000,000 
			 Norfolk 138,290,990 
			 North Wales 129,424,255 
			 Northamptonshire 114,800,000 
			 Northumbria 277,821,945 
			 North Yorkshire 132,211,729 
			 Nottinghamshire 184,691,802 
			 South Wales 240,301,180 
			 South Yorkshire 246,614,189 
			 Staffordshire 176,131,276 
			 Suffolk 106,859,580 
			 Surrey 191,497,346 
			 Sussex 245,079,000 
			 Thames Valley 356,100,977 
			 Warwickshire 85,414,811 
			 West Mercia 190,683,000 
			 West Midlands 543,444,000 
			 West Yorkshire 410,973,462 
			 Wiltshire 99,279,332 
			 Total England and Wales 10,833,985,323 
			  Sources: English police authorities: DCLG Welsh police authorities: WAG

Police: Newham

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which population figures are used to calculate the level of police precept in the London borough of Newham.

Vernon Coaker: The precept is calculated using the tax-setting tax base for Band D properties as reported by each London borough. Population figures are not used.

Police: Translation Services

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much police forces spent on interpretation and translation in  (a) Lancashire and  (b) England and Wales in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: Funding for translation and interpretation services is not separately identified. Decisions on the distribution of resources are matters for the chief officer and the police authority.

Vetting

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will change the process of obtaining a Criminal Records Bureau check so that an individual in more than one relevant role need only apply for one check.

Meg Hillier: Disclosures are primarily designed to be used by an employer at the point of recruitment for a particular position. Ultimately it is for each employer, and not the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), to decide whether a new disclosure should be applied for, bearing in mind their legal and other responsibilities and subject to any statutory requirements.
	There are a number of reasons why an employer may not wish to accept a disclosure that has been processed for a previous employment position, including:
	The disclosure may not be at the right level (there are two different levels of CRB check: standard and enhanced);
	The older a disclosure is the less reliant the information is because the information it contains may not be up to date;
	Information revealed through a CRB check reflects the information that was available at the time of its issue—a person may have committed a crime in the intervening period;
	The disclosure process may also include a search to establish whether an individual is subject to a direction under Section 142 of the Education Act 2002, or a check against the Protection of Children Act and Protection of Vulnerable Adults (PoCA and PoVA) lists;
	Each disclosure is specific to the circumstances of a particular job application and any decision to disclose any non-conviction information held by individual police forces is unique to that position.
	The introduction of the Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) may affect how employers behave. An initial application to the scheme can include, for eligible applicants, a CRB check at the same time. Once an individual is registered with the scheme, the employer will be advised of their registered status and a CRB disclosure will be issued.
	Any further information arising on the individual will be referred to the Independent Safeguarding Authority for consideration, and employers will be updated with any change to the individual's registered status. It will be a matter for employers to decide when and whether a further CRB check is needed, except in those sectors where this is a separate legal requirement.
	The scheme will increase portability of an individual's "barring status" (suitability) and the scope of role deemed "relevant" within certain sectors.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Emergency Services: Crimes of Violence

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many convictions there were in Northern Ireland in relation to assaults on  (a) police officers,  (b) ambulance personnel and  (c) fire service officers in each of the last three years.

Paul Goggins: The number of convictions for assaults on  (a) police officers and  (c) fire and rescue service officers are documented in the following table. Assaults on  (b) ambulance personnel do not constitute a separate offence under legislation: prosecutions for such assaults are instead taken forward under the normal range of offences against the person. As the backgrounds of the victims of such offences are not recorded on central databases, I regret it is not possible to give the numbers of such convictions which related to assaults on ambulance personnel.
	Assault on fire and rescue officers became an offence on 1 July 2006 under the Fire and Rescue Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006.
	Conviction data are collated on the principal offence rule; so only the most serious offence with which an offender is charged is included.
	
		
			  Number of convictions for assaults on police officers and fire and rescue service officers. 2004 - 06 
			   2004  2005  2006 
			 Assault on police officer 576 590 684 
			 Assault on fire and rescue service officer — — 0

Police Service of Northern Ireland: Finance

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the effects of the shortfall in the policing budget of £88 million over the last three years identified by the Policing Board of Northern Ireland; what steps he plans to take to address those effects; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office secured a substantial level of funding for policing in Northern Ireland in the 2007 comprehensive spending review. We recognise, however, that within this generous settlement PSNI will need to prioritise their plans.
	As the financial year progresses the Northern Ireland Office will continue to work closely with the PSNI and the Policing Board to identify ways that will enable PSNI to balance their budget over the CSR07 period.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Departmental Older Workers

David Simpson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many people aged over  (a) 55 and  (b) 60 years were recruited by her Department in 2007-08; and what percentage in each case this was of the number of new recruits.

Maria Eagle: The Government Equalities Office was established on 12 October 2007. Including those staff who came to us through machinery of government changes, we have recruited two staff over 55 years of age, representing 11 per cent. of new recruits, and one member of staff aged over 60 years, equivalent to 6 per cent. of new recruits in 2007-08.

Departmental Temporary Employment

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality which companies have been used by the Government Equalities Office for providing temporary staff since its establishment; and what the value of contracts with each such company has been.

Maria Eagle: Since its establishment on the 12 October 2007 the Government Equalities Office has used the following companies and made the following contract payments for the provision of temporary staff.
	
		
			  Company  Contract v alue (£) 
			 Adecco 96,152 
			 Brook Street UK Ltd 65,509 
			 Michael Page Associates 15,012 
			 Morgan Hunt 70,672 
			 Reed Employment Ltd 56,045 
			 Total 303,390

Women: Violence

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what recent assessment she has made of the  (a) nature and  (b) extent of violence against women; and if she will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: In July the Minister for Women and Equality published "Women's Changing Lives: Priorities for the Ministers for Women One Year On Progress Report". In this report the Government assess the nature and extent of violence against women at length, and detail the significant progress made by Government on tackling violence against women and the other priorities for the Ministers for Women.
	More recently the Home office, with the support of my Department, announced that they are undertaking a scoping project to audit current activity to tackle violence against women, identify gaps in delivery and look for opportunities to join up more strategically at a national and local level.
	"Women's Changing Lives" and the earlier report, "Tackling Violence Against Women: a Cross-Government Narrative", are both available in the Libraries of both Houses.

Women: Violence

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what recent progress has been made in the Government's work to reduce levels of violence against women; and if she will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: In July the Minister for Women and Equality published "Women's Changing Lives: Priorities for the Ministers for Women One Year On Progress Report" which details the significant progress made by Government on tackling violence against women and the other priorities for the Ministers for Women. It highlights a number of measures taken to reduce levels of violence against women, including:
	Rolling out multi-agency risk assessment conferences across the country to reduce repeat incidents of domestic violence. MARACs are currently operational in 100 areas, and will be rolled out nationally by 2010-11.
	Implemented a range of changes to the legal system and to how the police and Crown Prosecution Service work, which have resulted in women's increased willingness to report rape. Reporting of rape has increased since 1997, with the number of rapes reported to the police rising from 6,628 in 1997 to 12,654 in 2007-08.
	Criminalised all forms of human trafficking and secured 86 convictions for trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation under the Sexual Offences Act. Since publication, this number has increased to 90 convictions (as of September 2008).
	This and the earlier report, "Tackling Violence Against Women: a Cross-Government Narrative" chart the progress made by Government, and are both available in the Libraries of both Houses.

OLYMPICS

Olympic Games 2012: Construction

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what the original estimate for building cost inflation in the Olympic Construction Budget was for each year to 2012; and what the most recent estimate is for each such year.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 23 October 2008
	The funding envelope of £9.325 billion assumed construction inflation of 6 per cent. per annum. The current but as yet unsubstantiated estimates of inflation indicate a downward trend but in view of the present volatility, the Olympic Delivery Authority advise that a further six months procurement data will be required before any reasonably accurate assessment can be made. Any savings as a result of lower construction inflation will help to offset cost increases.

Olympic Games 2012: Finance

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Olympics with reference to the answer of 26 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1250W, on the Olympic Games, whether the £290 million, referred to in the answer as the investment in elite and community sport within the non-Olympic Delivery Authority provision public sector funding package for the Games' is in addition to the funding announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer's elite athlete funding package of March 2006; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 23 October 2008
	Yes. The £290 million I announced in 2003 is separate from the funding announced by the Chancellor in March 2006. The £290 million is the Home Country Sports Councils' contribution to elite and community sport as part of the overall Olympic budget. It is for each of these Sports Councils to determine how their contribution will be spent. The Chancellor's package confirmed £200 million of additional exchequer funding for UK Sport to be distributed to our Olympic and Paralympic sports and athletes up to London 2012, supported by £300 million of lottery investment and £100 million from the private sector.

Olympic Games 2012: Wales

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Minister for the Olympics which organisations based in Wales have been awarded contracts by the Olympic Delivery Authority; what the value of each such contract is; and what work has been commissioned or goods and services procured under each such contract.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 20 October 2008
	To date, four businesses or organisations registered in Wales have been awarded contracts by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA). These are;
	Glamorgan County Cricket Club
	John Evans Photography
	Office of National Statistics
	Strategy and Solution Limited
	These were awarded for leisure, media, and business services. I cannot disclose their values due to reasons of commercial confidentiality.
	I am very keen to ensure that the games provide benefits that are felt nationally. The London 2012 Business Network has been developed to open up London 2012 supply chains and spread these opportunities to business across the country. The CompeteFor system, a key component of this, is a matching service for buyers and suppliers.
	In June, the ODA and the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) visited Wales to raise awareness of current and future business opportunities and the importance of registering on CompeteFor. Also, I can tell you that Welsh businesses and officials from the Welsh Assembly will be visiting the Olympic park for a briefing session with the ODA on 27 October.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Departmental Civil Service Agencies

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many agencies were sponsored by his Department or its predecessor in  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 1997-98.

Si�n Simon: The Next Steps Report 1997 (Cm3889) provides information on all Executive Agencies as at 31 December 1997. Copies are available from the Library of the House. The most up-to-date list of Executive Agencies is published in the Cabinet Office publication The List of Ministerial Responsibilities. The latest version, incorporating recent ministerial changes, will be published shortly. Copies will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Higher Education: Research

Brian Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what criteria are used to take decisions on allocation of quality related research funding.

David Lammy: Within England, quality related research funding (QR) is allocated and distributed by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). The overall criterion for HEFCE QR funding is to fund excellent research wherever it is found. There are a number of components to QR funding as set out in the following table:
	
		
			  The components of quality-related research funding 
			 million 
			 Mainstream QR allocated to reflect the quality and volume of research at institutions in different subjects 919.8 
			 Research degree programme supervision fund 199.0 
			 Charity support element 184.9 
			 Business research element 61.7 
			 London weighting 28.7 
			 Best 5 allocation 24.5 
			 Supplementary funding to maintain QR in real terms 11.9 
			 Special funding for research libraries 5.9 
		
	
	The criteria for mainstream QR are quality (as determined by research assessment exercisesRAE), volume, and subject cost weighting. There are three subject cost weightings: high cost laboratory and clinical subjects, intermediate cost subjects and other.
	HEFCE measure the volume of research in each unit of assessment using three separate components. These volume components apply for departments rated four or above in the RAE and are weighted as follows:
	research-active academic staff1 x number of FTE research-active academic staff funded from general funds (including NHS funding for nursing and other subjects allied to medicine) and selected for assessment in the RAE
	research assistants0.067 x number of FTE research assistants
	research fellows0.06 x number of FTE research fellows.
	More detailed information on allocation of funding is set out in HEFCE publication 2007/20 Funding higher education in England: How HEFCE allocates its funds, available on the HEFCE website:
	http://www.hefce.ac.uk/pubs/hefce/2007/07_20/

Higher Education: Research

Brian Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much quality related funding was awarded in the last funding round to universities to support  (a) five star,  (b) four star,  (c) three star,  (d) two star and  (e) one star research.

David Lammy: Quality related (QR) funding in 2008-9 is allocated on the basis of the 2001 RAE. Scores in that exercise range from 1 to 5*. The amount of funding allocated at each rating level are as follows:
	
		
			  2001 RAE rating  2008-09 HEFCE research funding ( million)  Percentage of total 
			 1 0.0 0.0 
			 2 0.0 0.0 
			 3b 0.6 0.0 
			 3a 0.9 0.1 
			 4 190.9 14.1 
			 5 650.2 48.1 
			 5* 509.8 37.7 
			 Total England 1,352.4 100.0 
		
	
	Figures only include funding streams that are allocated at the departmental level. These are: mainstream QR; research degree programme supervision funds; London extra costs; 'best 5star' funds; and charities support funds.

Higher Education: Standards

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the performance of English universities against international benchmarks; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The UK higher education system is internationally renowned for its high quality, high graduate employability and high student satisfaction. There is no recognised international benchmarking system for universities although a number of unofficial ranking systems have emerged which consistently recognise the UK HE system as world leading, second only to the United States. An indication of the attractiveness of the UK HE system is the continued success our institutions have in recruiting international students. According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's Education at a Glance 2008 published in September, the UK remains the most attractive destination, excepting the United States, for international students.

Innovators Growth Programme

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what projects have been supported by the 3 million Innovators Growth Programme; and when he expects the programme to establish its first sector pilots.

David Lammy: The Innovators Growth Programme, run by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA), encourages innovation in small and medium sized enterprises in the creative sector.
	Pilots for the Digital Innovation in Film, Digital Convergence and Raise the Game projects were launched in March, May and July 2008 respectively.
	The pilot for the Creative Business Catalyst is scheduled to start this month (October 2008) and the pilot for Creative Business Mentor Network will start in November 2008.
	The Innovators Growth Programme has also funded the London Fashion Designer Economy Research to help inform a future project in this area.

Intellectual Property: Internet

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what assessment he has made of the merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to require internet service providers and rights holders to co-operate in taking action on illegal file sharing as discussed in the cross-departmental report, New Talents for the New Economy.

David Lammy: As the hon. Member will be aware, work in this area is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, in close co-operation with DIUS and DCMS. The Government are determined to ensure that the problem of illegal file sharing is tackled. As to whether legislation is needed, it has not yet made any such assessment, but is awaiting the results of the current consultation on legislative options, including our preferred approach of co-regulation, which closes on the 30 October. That assessment will take into account the work that is going ahead on a voluntary basis to tackle unlawful peer-to-peer file-sharing under the auspices of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the biggest internet service providers, major music and film players, and Government.

Midwives: Training

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many midwifery educationalists there were in higher education institutions in England in each year since 1997.

David Lammy: This information is not held centrally.

Students: Initiation Rites

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what representations have been made to his Department about university initiation rites in each of the last three years.

David Lammy: There have been no representations made on this subject in the last three years.

Teachers: Training

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the average  (a) training and  (b) student support cost of training a primary school teacher was in the most recent period for which figures are available.

David Lammy: Training costs for primary teacher trainees vary depending on the training route, the location of the training and the type of course. Full details for the academic year 2008-09 are available in the Training and Development Agency for Schools funding manuals, copies of which are available at
	http://www.tda.gov.uk/upload/resources/pdf/m/minastream fundmanua10809.pdf
	for mainstream and
	http://www.tda.gov.uk.upload/resources/pdf/e/ebittfunding manual0809.pdf
	for employment-based initial teacher training.
	Since 2006-07, students entering undergraduate teacher training courses PGCE courses have been required to pay their tuition fees (up to 3,145 in 2008-09). They are eligible for a tuition fee loan to cover the fee charged, and are also eligible for a partially means-tested maintenance grant (up to 2,835 in 2008-09) and a partially means-tested maintenance loan (up to 4,625 for students living away from home and studying outside London). 4,000 training bursaries are also payable to eligible trainees following primary postgraduate mainstream courses. The bursary is not payable to trainees on undergraduate or employment-based training routes.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Apprentices: North Staffordshire

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what plans Jobcentre Plus has to  (a) advertise,  (b) promote and  (c) fill apprenticeships in (i) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (ii) North Staffordshire;
	(2)  what apprenticeships in the construction sector which Jobcentre Plus helped to  (a) advertise,  (b) promote and  (c) fill in (i) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (ii) North Staffordshire in 2007-08;
	(3)  what apprenticeships Jobcentre Plus helped to  (a) advertise,  (b) promote and  (c) fill in (i) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (ii) North Staffordshire in 2007-08
	(4)  how many apprenticeships Jobcentre Plus helped to  (a) advertise,  (b) promote and  (c) fill in (i) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (ii) North Staffordshire in 2007-08;
	(5)  what co-ordination takes place between Jobcentre Plus, local further education colleges and the Learning and Skills Councils to  (a) advertise,  (b) promote and  (c) fill apprenticeships in (i) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (ii) North Staffordshire.

Tony McNulty: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated  21 October 2008:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions concerning the advertising, promotion and filling of apprenticeships in Newcastle-under-Lyme and North Staffordshire. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	The Learning and Skills Council have lead responsibility for managing apprenticeships. They hold details of employers interested in offering apprenticeships and provide the information to further education establishments and the local authority Connexions services to promote the opportunities available. They do not advertise the availability of apprenticeships through Jobcentre Plus.
	We direct customers who are interested in apprenticeships to the Learning and Skills Council and the local authority Connexions service for young people who hold information on all apprenticeships available. We make this referral through our network of advisers within Jobcentres. Our website www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk also directs customers to the apprenticeships website www.apprenticeships.gov.uk, hosted by the Learning and Skills Council.
	We do accept vacancies offering an apprenticeship direct from the employer. Labour Market Recruitment Advisers in local Jobcentres are on hand to offer advice to those employers and direct them to the Connexions Service and the Learning and Skills Council for more information and support regarding apprenticeships.
	We do not collect formal data on vacancies we have advertised that have offered an apprenticeship. However, we understand that very few employers offering an apprenticeship have contacted Newcastle-under-Lyme Jobcentre or the other Jobcentres in North Staffordshire. Generally, employers are aware that apprenticeships are handled through Connexions and the Learning and Skills Council and approach them directly.
	We are working very closely with North Staffordshire Regeneration Partnership to tackle worklessness. In Newcastle-under-Lyme, we hold regular liaison meetings with the local Connexions service, the Learning and Skills Council and other partner organisations; sharing information on modern apprenticeships available is something we are looking at to address worklessness in North Staffordshire.

Christmas

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Christmas functions  (a) he,  (b) officials from his Department and  (c) officials from its executive agencies (i) hosted and (ii) attended in 2007-08; what the cost to the public purse was; and if he will make a statement.

James Purnell: The Department does not have any account codes or categories specifically identifying spend on Christmas functions. While the policy is not to incur this type of expense in hosting events or for attendance at events by staff, there may be a small number of occasions when senior civil servants and departmental Ministers hosted and attended Christmas functions during 2007-08. However, to try and identify any such expenditure would incur a disproportionate amount of time and cost.

Council Tax Benefits

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was claimed in council tax benefits in each constituency in England in each of the last three years.

Kitty Ussher: A holding reply was sent on 14 October 2008.
	The information is not available. Information on council tax benefit expenditure at a local authority level is available on the Department's website at:
	www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/HBandCTB_expenditure.asp

Departmental Civil Service Agencies

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many agencies were sponsored by his Department or its predecessor in  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 1997-98.

Jonathan R Shaw: The 'Next Steps Report 1997' (Cm3889) provides information on all Executive agencies as at 31 December 1997. Copies are available from the Library of the House. The most up-to-date list of Executive agencies is published in the Cabinet Office publication The List of Ministerial Responsibilities. The latest version, incorporating recent ministerial changes, will be published shortly. Copies will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Departmental Consultants

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research has been commissioned on behalf of his Department by external consultants in the last 10 years; and what the cost was of this research.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Department commissions social and economic research with external consultants to help inform, develop and evaluate policy initiatives. Communications research is also commissioned to assist the development of campaign strategies and future communications activities.
	As the Department was established in 2001, it is not possible to provide details for the 10 years. Information on individual departmental research projects commissioned since 2001 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.
	Communications research is commissioned through a number of framework agreements and the Central Office of Information. Communications research is often included within campaign development costs and the specific costs are not held separately and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.
	The Department's expenditure on social and economic research for the last seven financial years is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Financial year  Social and economic research expenditure  ( million) 
			 2001-02 11.8 
			 2002-03 10.2 
			 2003-04 12.5 
			 2004-05 14.2 
			 2005-06 16.9 
			 2006-07 15.2 
			 2007-08(1) 15.0 
			 (1 )Estimated outturn for DEL taken from table 5 of the annual Departmental Report.

Departmental Public Participation

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many citizens' juries his Department has held since 1 July 2007; what the cost was of each; what issues were discussed at each event; and how many  (a) Ministers and  (b) members of the public attended each event.

Jonathan R Shaw: DWP ran a series of deliberative workshops in July 2008 using some of the principles of citizens juries to find out how people thought the working age benefit budget should be spent. Seven workshops, including one pilot were conducted around the UK with a total of 147 members of the public participating. No Members of Parliament took part. The research cost 164,185 in total, which includes recruitment of participants, operational costs in running the workshops, analysis of the data and a full analytical report. The report is due to be published shortly as part of the DWP research series.

Departmental Written Questions

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of written questions for answer on a named day his Department has answered on the due date in the current session of Parliament to date.

James Purnell: My Department has replied to a total of 621 named day questions in the current parliamentary session, of which 246 (39.6 per cent.) had substantive replies on the named day and 375 (60.4 per cent.) received holding replies.

Disability Living Allowance: Scotland

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey constituency receive the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance.

Jonathan R Shaw: At February 2008, 2,370 people in Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey constituency were receiving the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance.
	 Notes:
	1. The figure is rounded to the nearest 10.
	2. Figure shows the number of people in receipt of Disability Living Allowance, and excludes people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital.
	 Source:
	DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study.

Disability Living Allowance: Scotland

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are in receipt of  (a) the lower rate and  (b) the higher rate of the mobility component of disability living allowance in (i) each constituency in Scotland and (ii) Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The available information has been placed in the Library.

Housing Benefit

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much in housing benefit has been paid to tenants of  (a) housing associations and  (b) local authorities, including arm's length management organisations, since 1997; and what estimate he has made of the effect on housing benefit costs of tenants transferring from council management to registered social landlords as part of stock transfers in each of those years.

Kitty Ussher: I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer given on 14 May 2008,  Official Report, column 613W.

Housing Benefit: Complaints

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many complaints have been brought to the attention of his Department or the Rent Service on the operation of local housing allowance; and from which broad rental market areas these have come in the last 12 months.

Kitty Ussher: A holding reply was sent on 23 October 2008.
	The Rent Service has received six complaints on the operation of the local housing allowance for the broad rental market areas of: Bournemouth; Central Greater Manchester; Chichester and Sussex Downs; Devon South; Hull and Inner North and West London.
	No official record of complaints regarding the operation of local housing allowance is held by the Department for Work and Pensions as this is the responsibility of local authorities. However, since national rollout on 7 April 2008 we have received a total of 76 letters from Members and 47 letters directly from members of the public regarding the local housing allowance. There are no central records held indicating from which broad rental market areas these inquiries originate.

Jobcentre Plus: Telephone Services

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many failed telephone calls were made to the Jobcentre Plus helpline  (a) in each region and  (b) nationally (i) in each quarter of 2008-09 and (ii) in each month of 2008-09 to date; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: A holding reply was sent on 20 October 2008.
	The information is not available.

Members: Correspondence

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, West's correspondence of 22 August on his constituent Mr. Sandy Horn and the Financial Assistance Scheme.

Tony McNulty: A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 17 September 2008.

Post Office Card Account

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library a copy of the access criteria laid down in the tender documents for the successor to the Post Office Card Account.

Tony McNulty: A holding reply was sent on 23 October 2008.
	The contents of the tender documents are currently commercial in confidence and therefore cannot be placed in the Library.

Post Office Card Account

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the potential effects of awarding the Post Office Card Account contract to more than one bidder;
	(2)  when the decision on the award of the Post Office Card Account contract will be  (a) taken and  (b) announced;
	(3)  what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on the award of the Post Office Card Account contract.

Rosie Winterton: A holding reply was sent on 23 October 2008.
	This is a commercial tendering process, bound by UK and European law. We will announce the outcome when that is completed. I cannot speculate on the consequences of any particular outcome.
	Whatever the outcome, people will still be able to access their pension or benefit at the Post Office if they choose to do so, and there is a range of bank accounts available at the Post Office that makes this possible. The Government remain strongly committed to a sustainable and nationwide Post Office network, on the back of the 1.7 billion funding package and new national access criteria for the Post Office that we announced last year.
	Ministers have regular discussions with colleagues about the payments of benefits and pensions and wider social policy issues.

Poverty: Pensioners

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners who would be lifted out of poverty if there was 100 per cent. take up of entitlement to  (a) council tax benefit,  (b) pension credit and  (c) housing benefit.

Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer the hon. and learned Member for North Warwickshire (Mr. O'Brien) gave the hon. Member for Cardiff, Central (Jenny Willott) on 22 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1188W.

Powers Of Entry

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what  (a) primary and  (b) secondary legislation sponsored by his Department has (i) amended and (ii) enhanced existing powers of entry since May 1997.

Tony McNulty: I refer to the reply given to parliamentary written question number 222046 by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Home Office (Mr. Coaker) on 7 October 2008,  Official Report , column 577W.

Social Security Benefits: Earnings Rules

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether a deferred state pension is considered notional income when calculating  (a) housing and  (b) council tax benefit.

Kitty Ussher: A holding reply was sent on 20 October 2008.
	Notional income provisions in housing benefit (HB) and council tax benefit (CTB) do not apply to state pension which is being deferred. As HB and CTB can be paid to people who are working, it was decided as a matter of policy that a person who defers their pension should not be subject to the notional income rule. This reflects the policy of encouraging people to stay in work after state retirement age if they wish to do so.
	This is not the case in state pension credit, where different policy considerations apply. Deferred state pension is considered as notional income in pension credit because pension credit is intended to help people whose resources are insufficient to meet their day-to-day living expenses. Any income that is available to meet those expenses, including deferred state pension, is normally taken fully into account when working out how much benefit can be paid.
	For this reason, for people who claim HB and/or CTB and are in receipt of only the savings credit element of state pension credit, the Pension, Disability and Carers Service will have taken the person's deferred state pension into account when calculating entitlement to pension credit. In these cases, the local authority must use the Pension, Disability and Carers Service's assessment of income when calculating entitlement to housing benefit and council tax benefit.
	So, effectively, deferred state pension will be taken into account in these cases. We are aware of this issue and are considering options for reviewing it.

Social Security Benefits: Telephone Services

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  on what date the decision was made to charge clients for telephone calls to the 0845 number for the benefits delivery centre at St. Austell; and for what reason the decision was made;
	(2)  what revenue Jobcentre Plus has received from the operation of the 0845 number of the benefits delivery centre at St. Austell in each of the last three years; and how this revenue has been allocated.

Tony McNulty: A holding reply was sent on 16 October 2008.
	The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions asking on what date the decision was made to charge clients for telephone calls to the 0845 number for the benefits delivery centre at St Austell; and for what reason the decision was made and what revenue Jobcentre Plus has received from the operation of the 0845 number of the benefits delivery centre at St Austell in each of the last three years; and how this revenue has been allocated. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	In line with other DWP Contact Centres, the decision was made to move to 0845 numbers as Benefit Delivery Centres (BDCs) rolled out nationally. St Austell BDC started using 0845 numbers on 19 March 2007.
	Jobcentre Plus made a decision to use 0845 numbers as opposed to geographical prefix numbers as these numbers will, in the main, be cheaper than calling a national rate number. The 0845 prefix also enables us to provide better customer service by recording call statistics, providing a call queuing function and playing automated announcements providing customer information.
	The revenue received from 0845 numbers across the whole of DWP ceased in December 2007. We did not keep a breakdown of the revenue by business. The rebate from BT amounted to 0.5m per annum across DWP, some 0.007% of our annual budget and was used by DWP to re-invest in services.

Unemployment Benefits

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of children lived in families claiming out-of-work benefits in each year since 2004, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

Kitty Ussher: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 6 February 2008,  Official Report, columns 1237-38W.

Unemployment Benefits

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the most recent workload forecasts by Jobcentre Plus are for the volume of claims for  (a) jobseeker's allowance,  (b) income support,  (c) incapacity benefit and  (d) Social Fund loans for (i) the second, (ii) the third and (iii) the fourth quarters of 2008-09 and (iv) 2009-10, broken down by region; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: A holding reply was sent on 20 October 2008.
	The information has been placed in the Library.

Unemployment Benefits: Coastal Areas

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average length of time on  (a) incapacity benefit,  (b) income support and  (c) jobseeker's allowance was in the latest period for which figures are available for claimants in the most-deprived ward in (i) Barry, (ii) Blackpool, (iii) Bognor Regis, (iv) Bournemouth, (v) Bridlington, (vi) Brighton, (vii) Burnham on Sea, (viii) Clacton, (ix) Conway, (x) Dawlish/Teignmouth, (xi) Deal, (xii) Eastbourne, (xiii) Exmouth, (xiv) Falmouth, (xv) Folkestone/Hythe, (xvi) Great Yarmouth, (xvii) Hastings/Bexhill, (xviii) Ilfracombe, (xix) Isle of Wight, (xx) Lowestoft, (xxi) Minehead, (xxii) Morecambe/Heysham, (xxiii) Newquay, (xxiv) Penzance, (xxv) Porthcawl, (xxvi) Rhyl, (xxvii) Scarborough, (xxviii) Sidmouth, (xxix) Skegness, (xxx) Southend on Sea, (xxxi) Southport, (xxxii) St Ives, (xxxiii) Swanage, (xxxiv) Thanet, (xxxv) Torbay, (xxxvi) Weston super Mare, (xxxvii) Weymouth, (xxxviii) Whitby, (xxxix) Whitley Bay, (xl) Whitstable/Herne Bay and (xli) Worthing ranked in order of greatest disparity from the national average.

Tony McNulty: The information is not available.

Voluntary Work

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what research he has commissioned on the effect of volunteering on an individual's speed of return to employment; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: A holding reply was sent on 17 October 2008.
	We are in no doubt of the important role that voluntary activity in the community can play in helping unemployed people to keep in touch with the labour market. Voluntary work can also provide benefit recipients with skills and experience that may improve their chances of finding paid employment.
	Recent research has looked at volunteering in the context of mandatory options in the new deals, including The Longer Term Impact of the New Deal for Young People (DWP working paper 23, 2008) and changes to benefit rules related to volunteering, Volunteering and Availability for Work: An evaluation of the change to Jobseeker's Allowance regulations (DWP working-age research report 190, 2004).
	Copies of these reports have been placed in the library.

Welfare to Work: Devolution

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what Ministerial or official meetings he or his officials have had with counterparts in the devolved institutions in Scotland and Wales on welfare to work programmes; and if he will publish the minutes of such meetings.

Tony McNulty: Ministers and officials meet with the Scottish Executive and Welsh Assembly Government on issues of mutual concern in line with Cabinet Office guidance on working with the devolved Administrations. Minutes of meetings are not normally made public.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Academies: Sponsorship

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what criteria his Department uses to value non-cash contributions made by academy sponsors.

Jim Knight: Sponsors of academies, whether they contribute financially or in other ways, are key to driving the educational transformation of failing schools. This Department does not use set criteria to evaluate non-cash contributions. Non-cash contributions include: developing an ethos and vision for the proposed academy; chairing the Project Steering Group and Design User Group to ensure the sponsor's vision and ethos guide the establishment of the academy. DCSF officials and consultants work with the sponsor at all stages in the development and operation of the academy, supporting them to provide this role.

Assessments: Finance

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how much funding has been provided by his Department to educational institutions to offer diploma courses for 14 to 19-year-olds, broken down by institution type;
	(2)  how much funding each school and college offering diplomas for 14 to 19-year-olds will receive in each of the next three years in  (a) per capita funding and  (b) other funding as a result of offering diploma courses;
	(3)  how much his Department has spent on  (a) advertising,  (b) conferences and  (c) other forms of marketing in respect of 14 to 19 diplomas in each year since the plan to introduce such diplomas was announced;
	(4)  what estimate he has made of his Department's expected total expenditure on diplomas for 14 to 19-year-olds by the end of 2009.

Jim Knight: Diplomas are delivered by consortia of schools and colleges and we provide funding to consortia. We do not hold information on the amount of diploma funding at individual school or college level.
	The Department has provided for 2008-09 a grant towards the additional costs of delivering diplomas at KS4 to those local authorities with consortia approved to deliver the first five diploma lines. The average level of funding is 1,000 per diploma learner, though the actual amount each institution receives for students aged 16-18 taking diplomas is calculated according to rates published for providers by the Learning Skills Council (LSC). The rate is based on the costs of learning being delivered and other factors related to the needs of the individual learner and the particular circumstances of the institution.
	Details of spend on advertising, conferences and other marketing in relation to diplomas is as follows:
	
		
			   Amount spent  () 
			  Activity  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Advertising 1,459,491 0 
			 Other forms of marketing leaflets, posters, DVDs, website and Roadshows 2,472,702 2,722,710 
			 Conferences 225,000 258,000 
		
	
	Funding estimated to be made available for diplomas during the financial year 2008-09 is 128.4 million.

Autism: Intimidation

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps he is taking to minimise the number of pupils with autism who are excluded from school because they are being bullied.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: We have an ongoing programme of work to help prevent and tackle the bullying of children with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities. In May 2008 we published guidance which provides schools with comprehensive advice on how to prevent and tackle the bullying of children with SEN and disabilities. The guidance makes clear that pupils with SEN and disabilities must not be excluded from school for being bullied, even if the school believes they are doing so for the child's benefit. The guidance also includes useful case studies illustrating how schools have successfully tackled the bullying of autistic pupils, and how schools should respond in situations where autistic pupils are provoked into attacking other pupils. The Anti-Bullying Alliance and National Strategies are working with local authorities and schools to ensure the guidance is effectively implemented on the ground.

Children: Databases

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will place in the Library copies of letters sent by his Department's ContactPoint team to practitioners about Conservative Party policy on ContactPoint; to whom these letters were sent; and who authorised them being sent.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: This question was answered in a letter from David Bell, the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Children, Schools and Families, sent on 24 October 2008 to the hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove). A copy of the letter has been placed in the House Library.

Departmental Bank Services

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many of his Department's capital projects under  (a) the Building Schools for the Future programme and  (b) other programmes have involved financing from Landsbanki in the last three years, broken down by (i) school and (ii) local authority area.

Jim Knight: The Department is not aware, from information held centrally, of financing from Landsbanki being involved in capital projects funded through its schools capital programmes.

Departmental Recruitment

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many civil servants in his Department were recruited through the fast stream; and what the average salary of those officials is.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department was created on 28 June 2007. Since that time to date, there have been 40 civil servants recruited through the fast stream. The average salary is 27,793.

Departmental Temporary Employment

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which companies have been used by his Department for providing temporary staff since its establishment; and what the value of contracts with each such company has been.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department was created on 28 June 2007. The Department has used three agenciesAdecco, Reed and Haysto recruit the majority of temporary staff at a total cost of 1,155,725.
	For a small number of specialist temporary staff, the Department has used other agencies but information on this could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the reasons are for the delays in making education maintenance allowance payments; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) who operate the education maintenance allowance (EMA) for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and hold information about payments made under the scheme. Mark Haysom, the LSC's chief executive, will write to the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.

General Teaching Council: Data Protection

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what discussions he has had with the General Teaching Council about its recent loss of confidential data; and what steps are being taken to  (a) retrieve the data and  (b) ensure that such circumstances are not able to recur.

Jim Knight: Officials within the Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) have been in close and continuous contact with the General Teaching Council for England (GTCE) over the recent loss of personal data for some 11,400 teachers by a recognised courier contracted by one of their data suppliers.
	Despite an extensive search of the courier's vehicles and premises, the disc (which was password protected and encrypted and did not contain national insurance numbers or financial data) was not found. Both the GTCE and the DCSF have taken urgent steps to put additional security checks in place for the affected records.
	The GTCE has already changed its systems to ensure that there will be no similar incident in future. It is putting in place enhanced security where necessary in line with the requirements of the Government's Data Handling Procedures (June 2008) and all future data exchanges with their data processor will be via secure electronic means and not on physical discs.

Outdoor Education: Safety

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he plans to issue revised health and safety guidance on learning outside the classroom to schools; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department for Children, Schools and Families is currently revising Health and Safety of Pupils on Educational Visits (1998) and its three-part supplement (2002), with publication provisionally scheduled for the first quarter 2009.

Pupil Exclusions

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what definition of internal exclusion his Department uses in its guidance on school exclusions and pupil referral units.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: My Department's statutory guidance on exclusions, published in September, sets out that in most cases permanent exclusion will be the last resort, after a range of measures have been tried to improve a pupil's behaviour. A number of options may be available to head teachers to manage serious breaches of the school behaviour policy, including internal exclusion.
	Internal exclusions can be used to defuse situations that occur in schools that require a pupil to be removed from class but may not require removal from the school premises. The internal exclusion could be to a designated area within the school, with appropriate support and supervision, or to another class on a temporary basis, and may continue during break periods. Internal exclusion should be for the shortest time possible and should be subject to review.
	My Department has published good practice guidance on internal exclusion, available at
	http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/docbank/index.cfm?id=12506

Pupil Exclusions: Autism

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children with autism spectrum disorders were subject to  (a) permanent exclusion and  (b) fixed-term exclusion from school in the academic year 2006-07.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Information is only available on the primary special educational need for pupils who are classified as being at School Action Plus or with a statement of special educational needs. This information is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Primary, secondary and special schools( 1, 2, 3)  exclusions where pupils primary SEN need is autistic spectrum disorder( 4)  2006/07 
			   Primary schools( 1)  State funded secondary schools( 1, 2)  Special schools( 3) 
			   Number of exclusions  Percentage of the school population( 5)  Number of exclusions  Percentage of the school population( 5)  Number of exclusions  Percentage of the school population( 5) 
			 Permanent exclusions 20 0.12 10 0.08 10 0.08 
			
			  Fixed period exclusions   
			 Number of fixed period exclusions 900  2,060  390  
			 Number of pupils with at least one episode of fixed period exclusion 430 2.27 1,100 9.27 200 1.58 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2 )Includes both CTCs and academies. (3 )Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. (4 )Data for primary SEN need is collected for pupils with a statement of special educational needs or who are classified as being school action plus only. Data here have been taken from the National Pupil Database. (5 )The number of permanent exclusions or pupils with at least one fixed period exclusion by primary need expressed as a percentage of the school population with that primary need.  Note: Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source:  School Census

Pupil Exclusions: Special Educational Needs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps he plans to take to reduce the number of exclusions of pupils with special educational needs.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department's statutory guidance on exclusions is clear that, other than in exceptional circumstances, schools should avoid permanently excluding pupils with statements of special educational needs (SEN).
	As committed in the Children's Plan, my Department has started work with 13 local authorities which have a relatively good record in reducing exclusions of children with SEN to identify any good practice which can be shared more widely. I anticipate being in a position to disseminate such practice nationally from autumn 2009.

Pupil Exclusions: Special Educational Needs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the factors influencing the proportion of children attending pupil referral units who have been assessed as having special educational needs.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department has not commissioned research on the factors influencing the proportion of children attending pupil referral units who have been assessed as having special educational needs.
	The latest available information shows the number of pupils with special educational needs educated in pupil referral units as at January 2008. This has been published as tables 1a and 1b of the Departments SFR: Special Education Needs in England 2008 and can be found at
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000794/index.shtml.

Pupil Exclusions: Special Educational Needs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what plans his Department has to collect data on the types of special educational needs of pupils who have been excluded.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: My Department already collects data via the annual Pupil Level School Census on exclusions, and on the primary special educational need (SEN) for pupils who are classified as being at School Action Plus or with a statement of SEN.
	It is possible for my officials to draw on these data and cross-analyse primary SEN against exclusion, as I asked them to do in the case of the hon. Member's question (number 230230) of 23 October 2008.
	Following the SEN (Information) Act 2008, my Department is considering collecting information on the primary SEN type for children at School Action, in addition to School Action Plus and for pupils with statements of SEN.
	Pupil referral units (PRUs) do not make pupil level returns, but a PRU level return is made in January of each year. This does not include information on exclusions nor the primary SEN need of pupils, therefore these data are not available for PRUs. My Department is investigating options for the collection of pupil level data for PRUs.

Pupil Referral Units: Autism

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children with autism spectrum disorders have been sent to a pupil referral unit in the last 12 months.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The requested information is not collected centrally.

Pupil Referral Units: Special Educational Needs

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children at pupil referral units had special educational needs according to the most recent school census for which data are available, broken down by type of need.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: I refer the hon. Member to the previous answer given by the Department on 21 October 2008,  Official Report, column 331W.

Pupils: Languages

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many pupils at  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools in Lancashire do not speak English as a first language;
	(2)  how many schools there are in Lancashire where  (a) more than 10 per cent. and  (b) more than 20 per cent. of pupils do not speak English as a first language.

Jim Knight: The information requested is shown in the tables.
	
		
			  LA maintained primary schools( 1) : Number and percentage of pupils by first language, by local authority area and Lancashire. Year: January 2008 (final) 
			  Primary schools  England( 2)  North West( 2)  Lancashire 
			 Number of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be other than English 466,420 47,120 7,331 
			 Percentage of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be other than English(3) 14.3 10.2 9.7 
			 Number of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be English 2,788,320 412,680 68,072 
			 Percentage of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be English(3) 85.6 89.7 90.2 
			 Unclassified(4) 6,490 560 81 
			 Percentage unclassified 0.2 0.1 0.1 
			 Total(2,5) 3,257,590 459,980 75,430 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) National and regional totals and totals across each local authority have been rounded to the nearest 10. There may be discrepancies between totals and the sum of constituent parts. (3) The number of pupils by their first language expressed as a percentage of the number of pupils of compulsory school age and above. (4) Information was not sought or refused, also includes pupils where classification of first language is pending. (5) Total number of pupils of compulsory school age and above. Excludes dually registered pupils.  Source: School Census 
		
	
	
		
			  State-funded secondary schools( 1) : Number and percentage of pupils by first language, by local authority area and Lancashire. Year: January 2008 (final) 
			  Secondary schools  England( 2)  North West( 2)  Lancashire 
			 Number of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be other than English 349,040 31,050 4,571 
			 Percentage of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be other than English(3) 10.6 7.0 6.4 
			 Number of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be English 2,922,790 413,740 66,542 
			 Percentage of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be English(3) 88.9 92.7 93.4 
			 Unclassified(4) 16,240 1,550 155 
			 Percentage unclassified 0.5 0.3 0.2 
			 Total(2,5) 3,288,060 446,340 71,270 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed, CTCs and academies. (2) National and regional totals and totals across each local authority have been rounded to the nearest 10. There may be discrepancies between totals and the sum of constituent parts. (3) The number of pupils by their first language expressed as a percentage of the number of pupils of compulsory school age and above. (4) Information was not sought or refused. (5) Total number of pupils of compulsory school age and above. Excludes dually registered pupils.  Source: School Census 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of schools in Lancashire with pupils whose first language is known or believed to be other than English. Year: January 2008 (final) 
			   Lancashire 
			 Total number of schools 614 
			 Number of schools with more than 10 percentage of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be other than English(1) 90 
			  O  which:  
			 Number of schools with more than 20 percentage of pupils whose first language is known or believed to be other than English(1) 55 
			 (1) Pupils first language is collected for pupils of compulsory school age and above.  Note: Includes maintained primary, state funded secondary, all special schools and pupil referral units.  Source: School Census

Special Educational Needs

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the likely effect of the changes being made to the operation of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal on parental confidence in the special educational needs system.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Buckingham (John Bercow) on 20 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 83-84W.

Specialised Diplomas: Business

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the procedure is for businesses applying to participate in delivering diploma courses.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: There are many ways that employers can get involved with the diploma. Principally, they can help deliver work-related learning, including, but not restricted to, offering work experience.
	Information on which diplomas are being delivered in each local authority area is available via the DCSF website. Employers can contact an Education Business Partnership Organisation (EBPO) which cover all areas of the country and exist to help employers and education to work together or, if they wish, employers can contact schools and colleges direct.
	In addition to this, the Diploma Employers Champions Network (DECN) has been set up to encourage and support long-term employer involvement in the diplomas. The network is led by Sir Alan Jones of Toyota and consists of volunteer champions from a full range of employers across the English regions, including employers like Leeds city council, Vodafone, BT, Nsure, Hyatt Regency, Compass Group and Rolls-Royce.
	Contact information about the Diploma Employers Champions Network is available through the DCSF website.

Specialised Diplomas: Teachers

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average number of hours of training is that teachers have been given on the new diplomas prior to their implementation.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: We do not record how many hours of training individual practitioners receive. Individual practitioners all have different starting points in terms of existing skills and knowledge, and the extensive support package enables teachers to select the amount and type of training which best suits their needs, as part of the professional development planning in their school or college. The extent to which they take up training from the comprehensive support offer that is available from a wide range of partner organisations will vary according to their particular needs. It is therefore not possible to give an average number of hours of training.

Specialised Diplomas: Teachers

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which organisations are offering training on teaching diploma courses to teachers.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The current training package brings together support from a number of different partner organisations, including the Learning and Skills Improvement Service, the National College of School Leadership, the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, the National Strategies, the National Assessment Agency, the Training and Development Agency for Schools, Lifelong Learning UK, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, the Diploma Development Partnerships, the National Education and Business Partnership Network (NEBPN) and the Awarding Bodies.

Specialised Diplomas: Teachers

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the syllabus is for the training of teachers on diplomas.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The package of training that is available has been designed to meet the needs of individual practitioners with different levels of skills, knowledge and understanding. It includes some core elements covering functional skills; the structure of the diploma; collaborative delivery; experience of a sector-relevant working environment; assessment; and diploma administration. The rest of the package is flexible and tailored to respond to identified need.

Teachers: Manpower

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many teachers there were per 100 pupils in  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools in (i) Chesterfield, (ii) Derbyshire and (iii) England in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The following table shows the number of teachers employed per 100 pupils in local authority maintained primary and secondary schools in Chesterfield parliamentary constituency, Derbyshire local authority and England, in January of each year, 1997 to 2008.
	
		
			  FTE teachers per 100 FTE pupils in local authority maintained primary and secondary schools. Years: January 1997 to 2008 ,  Coverage: Chesterfield parliamentary constituency, Derbyshire local authority and England 
			   Primary  Secondary 
			   Chesterfield  Derbyshire  England  Chesterfield  Derbyshire  England 
			 1997 3.7 3.9 4.3 5.7 5.8 6.0 
			 1998 3.7 3.8 4.2 5.5 5.6 5.9 
			 1999 3.8 4.0 4.2 5.5 5.6 5.9 
			 2000 3.9 4.0 4.3 5.6 5.6 5.8 
			 2001 3.9 4.1 4.4 5.7 5.7 5.8 
			 2002 3.8 4.0 4.4 5.5 5.8 5.9 
			 2003 4.0 4.2 4.4 5.8 5.9 5.9 
			 2004 4.0 4.2 4.4 5.8 5.9 5.9 
			 2005 4.2 4.3 4.4 5.9 5.9 6.0 
			 2006 4.4 4.4 4.5 6.0 6.0 6.0 
			 2007 4.5 4.6 4.6 6.0 6.0 6.1 
			 2008 4.5 4.5 4.6 6.1 6.1 6.2 
			  Note: Excludes academies.  Source: School Census

Teachers: Training

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many teacher trainees on the initial teacher training course had to retake the basic  (a) literacy,  (b) numeracy and  (c) IT tests (i) once, (ii) twice, (iii) three times and (iv) more than three times in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of trainee teachers failed one or more times the basic  (a) literacy,  (b) numeracy and  (c) IT tests during their initial teacher training in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Knight: The available information is given in the following tables and relates to the number of trainees who passed their skills tests after one, two or more than two attempts between 2000/01 and 2006/07.
	
		
			  Numeracy skills test 
			O f whom: 
			Number  Failed one or more times 
			   Total number of trainees who passed the numeracy skills test  Passed on first attempt  Passed on second attempt  Passed after three or more attempts  Number  Percentage 
			 2000/01 23,420 18,950 2,560 1,910 4,470 19.1 
			 2001/02 26,460 22,520 1,930 2,010 3,940 14.9 
			 2002/03 29,680 24,740 2,390 2,540 4,930 16.6 
			 2003/04 33,520 27,340 2,810 3,360 6,180 18.4 
			 2004/05 33,970 26,960 3,310 3,690 7,000 20.6 
			 2005/06 34,290 26,790 3,430 4,070 7,500 20.6 
			 2006/07 34,920 26,810 3,520 4,600 8,110 23.2 
			  Note: Includes mainstream (universities, other higher education institutes, SCITT and Open University) as well as employment based routes.  Source: TDA 
		
	
	
		
			  Literacy skills test 
			O f whom: 
			Number  Failed one or more times 
			   Total number of trainees who passed the literacy skills test  Passed on first attempt  Passed on second attempt  Passed after three or more attempts  Number  Percentage 
			 2000/01 23,480 21,040 1,580 860 2,450 10.4 
			 2001/02 26,630 22,470 2,530 1,620 4,160 15.6 
			 2002/03 29,920 25,350 2,820 1,750 4,570 15.3 
			 2003/04 33,840 28,860 3,000 1,970 4,970 14.7 
			 2004/05 34,400 26,930 4,410 3,060 7,470 21.7 
			 2005/06 34,700 27,440 4,200 3,050 7,260 20.9 
			 2006/07 35,280 28,940 3,710 2,630 6,340 18.0 
			  Note: Includes mainstream (universities, other higher education institutes, SCITT and Open University) as well as employment based routes.  Source: TDA 
		
	
	
		
			  ICT skills test 
			O f whom: 
			Number  Failed one or more times 
			   Total number of trainees who passed the ICT skills test  Passed on first attempt  Passed on second attempt  Passed after three or more attempts  Number  Percentage 
			 2000/01 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 2001/02 26,040 23,410 2,060 580 2,630 10.1 
			 2002/03 29,680 22,770 4,670 2,250 6,920 23.3 
			 2003/04 33,640 29,000 3,280 1,360 4,640 13.8 
			 2004/05 33,930 25,190 5,920 2,810 8,730 25.7 
			 2005/06 35,270 31,420 2,130 1,720 3,850 10.9 
			 2006/07 35,130 31,830 2,430 870 3,310 9.4 
			 n/a = Not applicable (ICT not a requirement of QTS for this cohort).  Note: Includes mainstream (universities, other higher education institutes, SCITT and Open University) as well as employment based routes.  Source: TDA

Teachers: Training

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) mathematics,  (b) physics,  (c) chemistry,  (d) biology,  (e) English and  (f) IT teacher trainees have failed one or more times the (i) literacy, (ii) numeracy and (iii) IT tests in initial teacher training in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Knight: The requested information could be produced only at a disproportionate cost.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Community Relations

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what requirement local authorities have to adopt National Indicator 35 on violent extremism as part of their Local Area Agreement.

Sadiq Khan: Local authorities are not required to adopt any National Indicators (NIs) in their Local Area Agreements (LAAs). Targets in LAAs are negotiated and agreed between each local area, led by its local authority, and Government. 19 authorities have included NI35 as a designated target in their LAA. A further five areas have included NI35 as a local target.

Departmental Information and Communications Technology

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much her Department spent on upgrading its IT in each of the last three financial years.

Sadiq Khan: Communities and Local Government carried out a major upgrade to its desktop and infrastructure which was implemented between September 2007 and January 2008 which cost 2,064,000. The information relating to IT upgrades for other years and other systems is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Internet

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether  (a) civil servants,  (b) Ministers and  (c) special advisers in her Department are permitted to access web mail accounts from departmental computers.

Sadiq Khan: Communities and Local Government allows access to web mail accounts on departmental computers. However any users accessing web mail accounts from departmental systems are required to comply with the terms of a personal commitment statement and a code of conduct specifically in relation to the use of personal data. These restrict users from using web mail for general work purposes, and clearly define the restrictions and options available for different levels of protectively marked data, including the need for encryption in some cases. Staff are not permitted to automatically forward their Communities email account to a web mail account. Breach of these policies can be a disciplinary matter.

Departmental Older Workers

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people aged over  (a) 55 and  (b) 60 years of age were recruited by her Department in 2007-08; and what percentage in each case this was of the number of new recruits.

Sadiq Khan: The Department for Communities and Local Government has recruited 11 people over the age of 55 since 1 January 2007 which was 5 per cent. of total new recruits. The Department has recruited seven staff over the age of 60 which was 3 per cent. of total recruits.

Departmental Overseas Visits

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Answer of 15 September 2008,  Official Report, column 2081W, on departmental overseas visits, which division of her Department authorised each overseas visit.

Sadiq Khan: Communities and Local Government does not hold central records to identify which divisions in this Department authorised each overseas visit and there would be a disproportionate cost in obtaining this information from local managers.

Departmental Pensions

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of civil servants in her Department and its agencies are members of the  (a) Classic,  (b) Classic Plus,  (c) Nuvos and  (d) Premium civil service pension schemes.

Sadiq Khan: The proportion of civil servants in Communities and Local Government, including its agencies that are members of each version of the civil service pension scheme is outlined as follows:
	
		
			  CLG members by scheme type 
			   Number 
			 Classic 1,451 
			 Classic Plus 98 
			 Premium 511 
			 NUVOS 81 
			 Partnership 4 
			 None(1) 129 
			 Total 2,274 
			 (1) This figure includes staff on a casual contract and those who have opted out of the civil service pension arrangements.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the Departmental Unallocated Provision for Capital DEL outlined in her Department's 2008 Annual Report on page 166, has yet been allocated in whole or in part from  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11.

Sadiq Khan: As yet, none of the 2009-10 and 2010-11 Departmental Unallocated Provision for Capital DEL has been allocated to a programme.
	Any decisions on its allocation are not expected until after the publication of next year's Annual Report and Main Estimates.

Departmental Public Relations

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the cost was of  (a) entertainment,  (b) advertising and promotion and  (c) public relations consultancy to her Department in 2007-08.

Sadiq Khan: During 2007-08 the Department spent 317,086 on hospitality. The Department does not record expenditure for entertainment on its finance system and the figures in this reply relate to the broader category of hospitality. All expenditure on hospitality is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Government Accounting and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.
	The public information campaigns carried out by the Department in 2007-08 are published with costs in the Department's annual report, which is available in the Library of the House.
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply to recent Freedom of Information requests which give details of the Department's expenditure with Public Relations Companies between April 2002 and 8 August 2008. These can be found on the Department's website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/about/freedomofinformation/disclosurelog/disclosurelog2008/publicrelationsfirms/
	and
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/about/freedomofinformation/disclosurelog/disclosurelog2008/februaryaugustmeetings/

Departmental Recruitment

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  if she will place in the Library a copy of the job specification of the spatial analysis co-ordinator position advertised by her Department in October 2008;
	(2)  how many spatial analysis co-ordinators her Department  (a) employs and  (b) proposes to employ.

Sadiq Khan: The Department employs no spatial analysis co-ordinators. We propose to employ one. A copy of the job specification has been placed in the Library.

Equality and Diversity Partnerships

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what funding the Government Offices for the Regions gave to regional equality and diversity partnerships in the last period for which figures are available.

Sadiq Khan: The Government Offices for the English Regions gave 20,000 to regional and equality and diversity partnerships in the last period for which figures are available as follows:
	
		
			  Government Office  Organisation   
			 GO North West Contributed to the North West's annual Celebr8 Diversity festival led by North West Equality and Diversity Group 5,000 
			 GO West Midlands Provided over the last three years to the West Midlands Strategic Partnership for Equality and Diversity 10,000 
			 GO South West Paid in 2007-08 to the equality and diversity partnership for a short term secondment 5,000

Fire Services: Long Service Awards

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent changes have been made to the eligibility criteria for the Fire Brigade's Long Service and Good Conduct Medal; what the criteria are; whether staff in the new Regional Fire Control centres are eligible for the medal; and if she will make a statement.

Sadiq Khan: There have been no recent changes to the eligibility criteria for the Fire Brigade Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, which are set out in full in the Royal Warrant. Broadly, the warrant provides that eligibility extends to members of all ranks in fire brigades and aerodrome fire services maintained by local authorities in the United Kingdom or public airport companies, members of fire brigades or services maintained by Government Departments in the UK, certain Commonwealth territories or the British Airports Authority whose conditions of employment include a liability to engage in fire-fighting, and to certain other fire service personnel who are Crown servants. Staff in the new Regional Fire Control Centres which are local authority owned companies will not be in fire brigade employment and will not be eligible.

Fire Services: Long Service Awards

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many Fire and Rescue Service Long Service and Good Conduct medals were awarded in each of the last 10 years; and if she will make a statement.

Sadiq Khan: For the 10 year period 1 January 1999 to 27 October 2008 14,394 Long Service and Good Conduct medals have been awarded to those eligible.
	For 2008, to date (27 October 2008), 1,209 medals have been awarded.
	For the previous nine years, 1999 to 2007 inclusive, the number of medals awarded were:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2007 1,507 
			 2006 1,641 
			 2005 1,308 
			 2004 1,451 
			 2003 972 
			 2002 1,392 
			 2001 903 
			 2000 1,282 
			 1999 2,729

Firebuy Ltd.

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government who the board members of  (a) Firebuy Ltd and  (b) the Community Development Foundation are.

Sadiq Khan: The board members of Firebuy Ltd. are: Liz Barron (Chair), Elizabeth Bennett, Karen Dodd, Anthony Duggan, Paul Fuller, George Herbert, Martin Kitchen, Robert Light, David Rowe and Colin Tandy.
	The board members of the Community Development Foundation are: Tom Levitt MP (Chair), Suhail Aziz, Liz Bickerton, Michael Hamilton, Abdul Ismail, Jagwant Johal, Peter Latchford, Ruth Lister, Stewart Murdoch, Andrew Robinson, Dan Rogerson MP, Marilyn Taylor, Alison Wightman, Hilary Willmer and Jeremy Wright MP.

Housing: Disadvantaged

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the  (a) least deprived and  (b) most deprived lower layer super output area is in (i) Barry, (ii) Blackpool, (iii) Bognor Regis, (iv) Bournemouth, (v) Bridlington, (vi) Brighton, (vii) Burnham-on-Sea, (viii) Clacton, (ix) Conwy, (x) Dawlish/Teignmouth, (xi) Deal, (xii) Eastbourne, (xiii) Exmouth, (xiv) Falmouth, (xv) Folkestone/Hythe, (xvi) Great Yarmouth, (xvii) Hastings/Bexhill, (xviii) Ilfracombe, (xix) Isle of Wight, (xx) Lowestoft, (xxi) Minehead, (xxii) Morecambe/Heysham, (xxiii) Newquay, (xxiv) Penzance, (xxv) Porthcawl, (xxvi) Rhyl, (xxvii) Scarborough, (xxviii) Sidmouth, (xxix) Skegness, (xxx) Southend-on-Sea, (xxxi) Southport, (xxxii) St Ives, (xxxiii) Swanage, (xxxiv) Thanet, (xxxv) Torbay, (xxxvi) Weston-super-Mare, (xxxvii) Weymouth, (xxxviii) Whitby, (xxxix) Whitley Bay, (xl) Whitstable/Herne Bay and (xli) Worthing.

John Healey: The following table lists the codes for the least and most deprived lower super output areas in the English towns listed in the original question. We do not hold information on deprivation in Welsh towns.
	
		
			  Town  LA  Most Deprived ESOA  Least Deprived LSOA 
			 Blackpool Blackpool E01012721 E01012718 
			 Bognor Regis Aran E01031456 E01031383 
			 Bournemouth Bournemouth E01015282 E01015315 
			 Bridlington East Riding of Yorkshire E01012948 E01013093 
			 Brighton Brighton and Hove E01016947 E01016984 
			 Burnham-on-Sea Sedgemoor E01029106 E01029104 
			 Clacton Tendring E01021988 E01022005 
			 Dawlish/Teignmouth Teignbridge E01020272 E01020239 
			 Deal Dover E01024240 E01024233 
			 Eastbourne Eastbourne E01020912 E01020933 
			 Exmouth East Devon E01019914 E01019931 
			 Falmouth Carrick E01018841 E01018848 
			 Folkestone/Hythe Shepway E01024504 E01024523 
			 Great Yarmouth Great Yarmouth E01026625 E01026587 
			 Hastings/Bexhill Hastings E01020972 E01020970 
			 Ilfracombe North Devon E01020112 E01020090 
			 Isle of Wight Isle of Wight E01017332 E01017352 
			 Lowestoft Waveney E01030258 E01030284 
			 Minehead, West Somerset EO1029344 E01029331 
			 Morecambe/Heysham Lancaster E01025110 E01025146 
			 Newquay Restormel E01019056 E01019017 
			 Penzance Penwith E01018997 E01018985 
			 Scarborough Scarborough E01027806 E01027844 
			 Sidmouth East Devon E01019914 E01019931 
			 Skegness East Lindsey E01026093 E01026063 
			 Southend-on-Sea Southend-on-Sea E01015842 E01015908 
			 Southport Sefton E01007007 E01006985 
			 St Ives East Dorset E01020393 E01020377 
			 St Ives Penwith E01018997 E01018985 
			 Swanage Purbeck E01020489 E01020470 
			 Thanet Thanet E01024678 E01024708 
			 Torbay, Torbay E01015217 E01015208 
			 Weston-super-Mare North Somerset E01014831 E01014798 
			 Weymouth Weymouth and Portland E01020554 E01020558 
			 Whitby Scarborough E01027806 E01027844 
			 Whitley Bay North Tyneside E01008485 E01008523 
			 Whitstable/Herne Bay Canterbury E01024080 E01024056 
			 Worthing. Worthing E01031819 EO1031824

Housing: East Sussex

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what targets have been set for house building in  (a) Eastbourne constituency and  (b) East Sussex in the next planning period.

Sadiq Khan: Targets for the next planning period 2006-26 will be covered in the new South East Plan when it has been finalised. Proposed changes to the Draft South East Plan (consultation closed on 24 October 2008) set out a requirement for 4,800 dwellings for Eastbourne and 42,400 for East Sussex over the 20 year life of the Plan.

Keep Our Future Afloat Campaign

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding the Northwest Regional Development Agency provided to the campaign group Keep our Future Afloat, in each year since 2005.

Patrick McFadden: I have been asked to reply.
	The amount of funding provided by the Northwest Regional Development Agency to the campaign group Keep Our Future Afloat in each year since 2005 is detailed in the following table:
	
		
			
			 2005 25,287.62 
			 2006 50,000 
			 2007 50,000 
			 2008 100,000 
			 Total 225,287.62

Local Government Finance

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much local authority income in  (a) England and  (b) each local authority in England came from (i) revenue support grant, (ii) specific and special grants, (iii) capital receipts, (iv) fees, rents and charges, (v) council tax, (vi) external interest receipts, (vii) housing revenue accounts and (viii) redistributed non-domestic rates in each year since 1997.

John Healey: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Local Government: Elections

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) organisations and  (b) individuals responded to the consultation on the date of the 2009 local elections; and what the name is of each which did not request confidentiality.

John Healey: As I announced in the written statement I made to the House on 7 October 2008,  Official Report, column 8WS, I placed in the Library of the House a document summarising the representations we received and setting out the Government's response.
	In addition I have today placed in the Library of the House a full list of the organisations and individuals who responded to the consultation and did not request confidentiality.

Local Government: Elections

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to clause 5 of the draft Local Elections (Ordinary Day of Elections in 2009) Order 2008, for what reason it is proposed that the provisions on elections to fill casual vacancies should commence seven rather than six months before the June 2009 elections.

John Healey: The approach that we have adopted in light of representations received, including from the Local Government Association, provides more clarity and certainty for returning officers as to when the period during which casual vacancies do not need to be filled starts. The date will be 7 November whether the election is held in May or June. This replicates the approach taken for the 2004 elections.

Local Government: Pensions

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much has been paid  (a) by (i) employees and (ii) employers into and  (b) to those receiving pensions payments by the local government pension scheme in each of the last five years.

John Healey: Details of how much has been paid into the Local Government Pension Scheme by both employees and employers, as well how much has been paid to those receiving pensions payments, in each of the last five years, can be found on the Communities and Local Government website at:
	http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/stats/pensions.htm.

Local Government: Pensions

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the annual change in the cost to the public purse of the 2006 changes to  (a) the local government pension scheme and  (b) the firefighters' pension scheme; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: Reforms to the Local Government Pension Scheme in England and Wales took effect from 1 April 2008 based on benchmark costs provided by the Government Actuary's Department and agreed with key stakeholders, within a total cost envelope of 19.5 per cent. of total pensionable payroll. The net assumed annual savings arising from the reforms in respect of future accrual of pension rights is estimated at some 1.3 per cent. of pensionable payroll, which was estimated to be some 30 billion for the year 2007-08.
	For the firefighters' pension schemes, reforms to their ill health pension arrangements have resulted in current savings of an estimated 2 per cent. of pensionable pay. The introduction of the New Firefighters' Pension Scheme for all new entrants from April 2006 achieves a further 0.6 per cent. of estimated current savings, together with longer term savings from a reduction in employers' contributions from 26.5 per cent. to 14.2 per cent. of pensionable pay.

Local Government: Public Participation

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government further to the Community Empowerment White Paper, what the minimum percentage of local residents required to sign a petition will be to require  (a) a referendum on an elected mayor and  (b) a full council debate to take place.

Sadiq Khan: The White Paper Communities in Control: Real People, Real Power, stated that the Department for Communities and Local Government will consult on reducing the threshold for a petition to trigger a referendum on an elected mayor from the current 5 per cent. of voters to perhaps 2, 3 or 4 per cent. of local electors.
	The Local Petitions and Calls for Action Consultation: Government Response stated that local authorities should set their own thresholds for triggering debates about petitions on local issues, but these thresholds should at most be 5 per cent. of the local population.

Local Government: Suffolk

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether county council elections will take place in  (a) Suffolk and  (b) Ipswich in 2009.

John Healey: The statutory framework for local elections established by the Local Government Act 1972 and the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, provides that in 2009 there will be elections to Suffolk county council and no elections to Ipswich borough council.

New Dimension Programme

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of the report by Nera UK Ltd. on the economic benefits of the New Dimension programme.

Sadiq Khan: The report will be placed in the Library of the House when completed, planned for February 2009.

Non-Domestic Rates: Public Houses

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether licensed premises which diversify under the Pub is the Hub scheme would receive a revised business rates valuation on their additional, diversified services.

John Healey: The additional services provided under the Pub is the Hub scheme may or may not result in a revised rateable value in respect the subject property. This will depend on the extent of the services provided and any modifications undertaken to the property. Each case will be considered in the light of full discussion between the Valuation Officer and the ratepayer.

Place Surveys

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether new Place Surveys will be conducted by  (a) face-to-face interview or  (b) correspondence.

Sadiq Khan: The Place Survey will be conducted using a postal methodology.

Planning Permission

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of her call-in policy for planning applications.

Sadiq Khan: I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Central (Mr. Caborn) on 16 June 1999,  Official Report, column 138, which sets out the Government's call-in policy for planning applications.

Rates and Rating

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much  (a) council tax or community charge and  (b) non-domestic rate revenue was written off in England in each year since 1985.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 23 October 2008,  Official Report, column 478W, about council tax write offs.
	Details of the amount of non-domestic rates written off each year since 1996-97 can be found in table 2.3e of Local Government Financial Statistics England No.13 2002  table 2.3j of Local Government Financial Statistics England No.18 2008 both of which are available on the Communities and Local Government website at
	http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/stats/index.htm.
	The amounts written off relate to council tax or non-domestic rates payable for both the current year and for previous years.
	Some authorities net off against write-offs moneys collected that had previously been written off. This can result in a negative total figure for amounts written off in a particular year.

Rates and Rating: Tax Collection

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the collection rates of  (a) council tax or community charge and  (b) non-domestic rates were in England in each year since 1985.

John Healey: Details of the collection rates of council tax and non-domestic rates are published in both Statistical Releases and Local Government Financial Statistics England. Data for 2003-04 to 2007-08 are available in a Statistical Release available on the Communities and Local Government website at
	http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/ctax/cp078.htm.
	Data prior to 2003-04 are available in issues of Local Government Financial Statistics England copies of which are available in the Library of the House. Copies of Local Government Financial Statistics England No. 11 2000 onwards are also available on the Communities and Local Government website at
	http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/stats/index.htm.
	Collection of council taxes and non-domestic rates continues once the financial year to which they relate has ended. This means that the percentage collected will eventually be higher than the figure shown.

Travelling People: Caravan Sites

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what requirements there are on individual local authorities to make provision for sites for  (a) permanent and  (b) transient Travellers.

Iain Wright: The Housing Act (2004) requires local housing authorities to carry out an assessment of the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers residing in or resorting to their area.
	Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessments provide information about the need for long-term residential Gypsy and Traveller pitches and short-term transit pitches and temporary stopping places within the assessment area. These assessments are used by regional planning bodies to inform regional spatial strategies, which will set out the number of pitches that must be provided in each local planning authority area. Planning authorities are in turn required to allocate specific land for the required pitches in development plan documents. These pitches may be provided by the local authority, a registered social landlord, or privately.
	Local planning authorities need not await the publication of pitch numbers in regional spatial strategies to take steps to meet the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers. We expect authorities where there is clear and pressing need for accommodation (both residential and transit) to take action now.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Civil Service Agencies

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many agencies were sponsored by his Department or its predecessor in  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 1997-98.

Barbara Follett: The Next Steps Report 1997 (Cm3889) provides information on all Executive agencies as at 31 December 1997. Copies are available from the Library of the House. The most up-to-date list of Executive agencies is published in the Cabinet Office publication The List of Ministerial Responsibilities. The latest version, incorporating recent ministerial changes, will be published shortly. Copies will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what sanctions are available in cases of departmental staff found to have committed disciplinary offences; and how many times each has been used in each of the last three years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In the Department for Culture, Media and Sport the following sanctions are available for staff found to have committed disciplinary offences.
	The withdrawal or withholding of pay increases and/or bonus payments (in whole or in part);
	Suspension from duty with loss of pay for a specified period ;
	A ban on promotion (including temporary promotion and deputising) for a specified period;
	The removal from a post attracting additional pay or allowances;
	Downgrading;
	Dismissal; and
	A formal written warning.
	One member of staff was dismissed during 2007-08 for committing a disciplinary offence. No other sanctions have been used in the last three years.

Departmental ICT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what IT projects  (a) his Department and  (b) its agency is undertaking; and what the most recent estimate of (i) the cost and (ii) the completion date of each is.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is currently implementing an IT programme that provides electronic document and record management, electronic content management and secure collaboration. This programme is due to complete by 31 March 2009 and is estimated to cost 1.5 million.
	The Royal Parks Agency is undertaking a number of projects as part of tranche 1 of their ICT change programme. The most recent estimate and completion date of each project is as follows:
	
		
			  Project  Completion date   
			 Quick Wins Completed September 2008 11,903 
			 Estates Licensing Upgrade Completed August 2008 9,129 
			 Business Systems Governance Completed July 2008 19,398 
			 Training/Change Management Completion March 2009 142,492 
			 Upgrade Sports Booking system DeferredJuly 2008 23,766 
			 ICT Service improvement Completion October 2008 87,785 
			 Desktop/laptop replacement Completed September 2008 323,793 
			 Remote Working Completion April 2009 137,837 
			 LAN infrastructure upgrade Completed September 2008 86,191 
			 Server infrastructure upgrade Completed September 2008 268,022 
			 Intranet/Collaboration tool DeferredJuly 2008 1,314 
			 Telephony Completion April 2009 53,358 
			 Refresh Trim EDRMS Completed September 2008 213,992 
			 Mobile Working DeferredJuly2008 11,799

Departmental ICT

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on upgrading its IT in each of the last three financial years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: My Department has spent the following upgrading its IT in the last three financial years:
	
		
			
			 2005-06 997,108 
			 2006-07 1,825,922 
			 2007-08 1,892,660

Institute for Contemporary Arts

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much public funding is being provided to the Institute for Contemporary Arts (ICA) expressed  (a) in cash terms and  (b) as a percentage of the overall budget of the ICA in 2008-09.

Barbara Follett: Arts Council England is the national development agency for the arts in England, and as such, is responsible for distributing public money from the Government and the National Lottery to artists and arts organisations. It makes all arts funding decisions at arm's length from Government, and has provided the following information on its support of the Institute for Contemporary Arts (ICA).
	For the financial year 2008-09, (a) Arts Council England is providing 1,357,370 to the ICA, which (b) is reflected as 19.5 per cent. of ICA's overall income for the same year.

National Lottery: Sport

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much National Lottery funding was awarded to sport-related groups in  (a) Southampton and  (b) Test Valley Borough in each of the last five years.

Barbara Follett: Sport England and Big Lottery Fund have advised that the information provided in the following table shows the value of funding delivered to sport related groups in the Southampton local authority area. The figures are given for BIG (and its predecessor bodies: New Opportunities Fund and Community Fund) as well as Awards For All. Sport England's funding is provided in the last column.
	
		
			   
			  Southampton local authority area  BIG (and predecessor bodies)  Awards For All  Sport England 
			 2003-04 583,134.00 19,090.00 759,810.00 
			 2004-05 1,871,817.00 9,000.00 481,762.00 
			 2005-06 75,960.00 13,524.00 815,732.00 
			 2006-07 113,940.00 20,911.00 350,000.00 
			 2007-08  24,230.00 72,976.00 
		
	
	The following table shows the value of funding delivered to sport related groups in the Test Valley local authority area. The figures are given for BIG (and its predecessor bodies: New Opportunities Fund and Community Fund) as well as Awards For All. Sport England's funding is provided in the last column.
	
		
			   
			  Test Valley local authority area  BIG (and predecessor bodies)  Awards For All  Sport England 
			 2003-04  9,466.00 452,000.00 
			 2004-05  9,039.00 95,000.00 
			 2005-06  9,350.00  
			 2006-07 94,950.00 12,316.00  
			 2007-08  24,340.00

Olympic Games 2012: Tourism

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made on the development of a non-commercial brand intended to take advantage of the tourism benefits of hosting the Olympic games in 2012; what use small tourism businesses will be able to make of the branding; and if he will make a statement.

Barbara Follett: The DCMS and VisitBritain have been actively working with the London Organising Committee for the Olympic games and Paralympic games (LOCOG) to produce effective, non-commercial branding for use by tourism businesses.
	The result is a toolkit for use by tourism organisations in the private and public sector, based on a Be a Part of It strapline and drawing on effective visual images of London and the UK. This has so far been approved by LOCOG for international use only. The DCMS, VisitBritain and LOCOG are currently seeking to agree a similar branding package for domestic use. The nations and regions of the UK will be fully involved.

Overseas Visitors

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many visits from overseas to  (a) the UK and  (b) England there were in each year since 1997; and what percentage of the world market for tourism each figure represents.

Barbara Follett: VisitBritain is the Government-sponsored tourism body responsible for promoting Britain as a tourist destination to overseas markets, and England as a tourist destination to the domestic market. VisitBritain has provided the following information:
	
		
			  Visits to the UK since 1997 and percentage of global market share 
			   Number of visits (million)  Global market share (percentage) 
			 1997 25.515 3.92 
			 1998 25.745 3.88 
			 1999 25.394 3.68 
			 2000 25.209 3.41 
			 2001 22.835 3.08 
			 2002 24.180 3.18 
			 2003 24.715 3.30 
			 2004 27.755 3.37 
			 2005 29.971 3.49 
			 2006 32.713 3.62 
			 2007 32.778 3.40 
			  Source:  International Passenger Survey (ONS). 
		
	
	
		
			  Visits to England since 1997 and percentage of global market share 
			   Number of visits (million)  Global market share (percentage) 
			 1997 19.5 3.30 
			 1998 20.2 3.30 
			 1999 19.8 3.12 
			 2000 19.8 2.91 
			 2001 17.8 2.61 
			 2002 19.0 2.71 
			 2003 19.5 2.82 
			 2004 21.9 2.87 
			 2005 23.7 2.95 
			 2006 25.9 3.06 
			 2007 26.2 2.88 
			  Source:  International Passenger Survey (ONS).

Overseas Visitors

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much visitors from overseas to  (a) the UK and  (b) England spent in each year since 1997; and what percentage of global tourism spending each figure represents.

Barbara Follett: VisitBritain is the Government-sponsored tourism body responsible for promoting Britain as a tourist destination to overseas markets, and England as a tourist destination to the domestic market. VisitBritain has provided the following information:
	
		
			  Spend in the UK since 1997 
			   Overall visitor spend ( billion)  Global market share (Percentage) 
			 1997 12.244 4.53 
			 1998 12.671 4.72 
			 1999 12.498 4.42 
			 2000 12.805 4.08 
			 2001 11.306 3.51 
			 2002 11.737 3.66 
			 2003 11.855 3.66 
			 2004 13.047 3.78 
			 2005 14.248 3.81 
			 2006 16.002 3.97 
			 2007 15.196 3.72 
			  Source:  International Passenger Survey (ONS) 
		
	
	
		
			  Spend in England since 1997 
			   Overall visitor spend ( million)  Global market share 
			 1997 13,917 3.24 
			 1998 13,890 3.45 
			 1999 12,410 3.32 
			 2000 11,442 3.31 
			 2001 10,515 3.25 
			 2002 10,422 3.25 
			 2003 10,051 3.12 
			 2004 11,473 3.66 
			 2005 11,148 3.94 
			 2006 11,315 4.21 
			 2007 10,885 4.03 
			  Source:  International Passenger Survey (ONS)

Sex Establishments: Licensing

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations the Government have received on changes to licensing laws associated with lap dancing establishments.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 21 October 2008
	 My Department has received a number of general inquiries from hon. Members, local authorities, interest groups and members of the public on the subject of lap dancing. I wrote to chief executives of local authorities on 18 June 2008 to clarify the powers available under the Licensing Act 2003 and to seek their views on whether these, and other controls, are sufficient to respond to the concerns of local people. This attracted 117 responses, the majority of which felt that additional legislation should be introduced to provide controls which are specific to lap dancing and similar premises.
	The Home Secretary, who leads on this issue because of her wider responsibilities for public indecency, sexual exploitation and prostitution announced in September that the Government would seek to amend existing legislation to give communities and local authorities greater powers to control the opening and regulation of lap-dancing clubs.
	A separate Home Office consultation on Government proposals in relation to control of the sex industry, including the regulation of lap-dancing clubs, closed on 8 October 2008 and received 67 responses. These came from a variety of organisations from the third sector, local authorities and the industry.

Sports: Finance

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much  (a) Exchequer and  (b) Lottery money was given to the street athletics initiative in each year since its inception.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Sport England have advised that they funded two street athletics projects in the London region in 2007 and one regional project in 2008. All three were Lottery funded awards with a total value of 551,000.
	
		
			  Region  Recipient  Project  t itle  Award Date  Financial  y ear  Award ()  Project  c ost ()  Programme  n ame 
			 London Nuff Respect Street Athletics 29 June 2007 2007-08 150,000 383,000 National Programme 
			 London London South Bank University Street Athletics 22 June 2007 2007-08 96,000 212,000 Community Programme 
			 National Nuff Respect Street Athletics 1 September 2008 2008-09 305,000 305,000 National Programme

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Coal

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many people were employed in the UK coal industry in each of the last five years.

Mike O'Brien: As reported to the Coal Authority in its role as licensing authority, employment in the coal industry at the close of each of the last five years was as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2003-04 8,365 
			 2004-05 7,109 
			 2005-06 5,903 
			 2006-07 5,411 
			 2007-08 5,402

Coal: Prices

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent estimate he has made of likely trends in the price of coal for domestic heating use in the next three years.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 17 October 2008
	The Government have made no assessment of the price of coal for domestic heating use in the next three years. Coal is an internationally traded commodity and prices are set in international markets. Changes in globally traded coal prices will tend to feed into coal prices for domestic use.

Community Energy Saving Programme

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the timetable is for the introduction of the Community Energy Saving Programme.

Joan Ruddock: We will be taking measures under the Climate Change Bill to provide the legislative framework for the Community Energy Saving Programme. Royal Assent to the Climate Change Bill is expected during the current parliamentary session. We will then consult on the detailed provisions of the programme and bring forward the relevant secondary legislation.

Electricity Generation

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what percentage of UK electricity was generated from  (a) coal,  (b) nuclear power,  (c) renewable sources and  (d) gas in each of the last five years.

Mike O'Brien: The percentage shares of UK electricity generation by coal, nuclear, renewables and gas, from 2003 to 2007 are given in the following table:
	
		
			   Total electricity generation in the UK  Coal-fired electricity generation in the UK  Nuclear electricity generation in the UK  Renewables sourced electricity generation in the UK  Gas-fired electricity generation in the UK 
			   GWh  GWh  Percentage share of total  GWh  Percentage share of total  GWh  Percentage share of total  GWh  Percentage share of total 
			 2003 398,209 138,305 34.7 88,686 22.3 10,600 2.7 148,881 37.4 
			 2004 393,867 131,788 33.5 79,999 20.3 14,147 3.6 157,064 39.9 
			 2005 398,313 134,841 33.9 81,618 20.5 16,940 4.3 152,642 38.3 
			 2006 398,823 150,392 37.7 75,451 18.9 18,116 4.5 141,225 35.4 
			 2007 396,457 136,545 34.4 63,028 15.9 19,664 5.0 164,473 41.5 
			  Source: Digest of UK Energy Statistics, 2008, Tables 5.6 and 7.4.

Energy: Metering

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how long he expects the work evaluation of smart meters to take; who is conducting the evaluation; and when he expects to take the next steps towards wider installation of smart meters.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 14 October 2008
	 The Government published a response to their 2007 consultation on energy billing and metering in April this year. At that stage, the economic impact assessment did not indicate a positive case for a roll-out of smart metering to all domestic customers. However, in a project of this scale the figures carry a high degree of uncertainty and many of the benefits are difficult to quantify in monetary terms. Officials have therefore been undertaking further work with stakeholders, including contracting some independent consultancy work, to ensure that the Government have the best possible understanding of costs, benefits and issues relating to smart metering. The intention is for Ministers to take a decision soon on whether to roll-out smart meters to domestic customers.

Energy: Metering

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what progress his Department has made in requiring electricity and gas suppliers to provide advanced meters to electricity customers in Profile 5-8 and gas customers with annual consumption above 732MWh by 2013; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: In July 2008, the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform consulted on final proposals to ensure that these customers would be provided with advanced metering by 31 December 2013. This consultation closed on 5 September. My Department will shortly issue its response to this consultation, with a final licence modification, with a view to having the new arrangements in place in January 2009, subject to the passage of the Energy Bill.

Energy: Prices

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what additional monitoring the Government is undertaking of the effects on  (a) payment method preference,  (b) levels of debt and  (c) levels of disconnections of domestic energy consumers of (i) recent and (ii) anticipated increases in energy prices; and how much the Government has allocated to provide domestic energy customers with energy efficiency advice and information.

Mike O'Brien: The Government publish price data in their Quarterly Energy Prices publication. This publication includes price data sourced from the RPI produced by the Office for National Statistics and bills information from the new Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). This information can be found online at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/energy/statistics/publications/prices/index.html
	Data of historical trends can be found at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/whatwedo/energy/statistics/publications/prices/tables/page18125.html
	No information is published on anticipated changes in energy prices.
	The industry regulator, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) is responsible for monitoring and providing information about levels of use of particular payment methods, customer debt and disconnections. This information will reflect, among other things, the impact of price increases. Ofgem publishes this information quarterly. The report for the first quarter of 2008 is available online at:
	http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Pages/MoreInformation. aspx?docid=47refer=Sustainability/SocAction/Monitoring/SoObMonitor
	An annual report is also published, available online at:
	http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Sustainability/SocAction/Monitoring/SoObMonitor/Documents1/Suppliers%20Social%20Obligations%20Monitoring %20Report%202007%2011208.pdf
	DECC has provided grant funding to the Energy Saving Trust year-on-year, supporting the work it undertakes to encourage and promote the sustainable and efficient use of energy. DEFRA has provided the Energy Saving Trust with 35.2 million for 2008-09 which includes funding for the Act on CO2 advice line and the roll-out of their regional advice centres.

Fuel Poverty

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what criteria underpin his Department's definition of fuel poverty; what public surveys his Department and its predecessor have conducted of the extent and impact of fuel poverty; which 10 parliamentary constituencies contain the highest number of fuel poor; and what plans he has to increase public access to resources to combat fuel poverty.

Mike O'Brien: A household is said to be in fuel poverty if it needs to spend more than 10 per cent. of its income on fuel to maintain an adequate level of warmth (usually defined as 21 degrees for the main living area, and 18 degrees for other occupied rooms). This broad definition of fuel costs also includes modelled spending on water heating, lights, appliances and cooking.
	The survey that provides the source data for modelling fuel poverty is the English Housing Survey (known as the English House Conditions Survey to 2008), conducted by Communities and Local Government (CLG). The survey data is modelled and combined with prices to produce energy costs and incomes, the main variables of the fuel poverty ratio.
	Annual progress reports on the Fuel Poverty Strategy, the 2008 version of which was recently published:
	http://wwwiberr.gov.uk/files/file48036.pdf
	gives more information on progress tackling, and the impact of, fuel poverty.
	Fuel poverty is not calculated at a parliamentary constituency level.
	The Government already have a range of measures in place to help tackle fuel poverty, and on 11 September the Prime Minister announced an ambitious new 1 billion National Home Energy Saving Programme to help domestic consumers cut their energy bills permanently. Within this, we are expanding the existing obligation on energy suppliers to install energy efficiency measures in households. This will mean a further 560 million energy supplier investment in British housing, to save energy and to reduce bills to households. 40 per cent. of these measures have to be installed in a priority group of low income and elderly households.
	In addition the Government will consult on legislation for a new 350 million obligation on energy suppliers and electricity generators to undertake community-based energy efficiency measures. Other measures in the package include a 74 million increase to the budget for Warm Front (the Government scheme in England, offering insulation, heating and energy efficiency measures to low income and pensioner households on eligible benefits); and an increase in cold weather payments this winter from 8.50 to 25 a week. To make sure people across the country can take advantage of the help on offer and save as much money as possible, a national TV, press and online social marketing campaign is publicising what help is available.

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many individual contractors have been appointed to carry out work under the Warm Front scheme.

Joan Ruddock: There are currently 139 companies registered to carry out work for the Warm Front scheme.

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessments are carried out before appointing contractors to carry out work under the Warm Front scheme.

Joan Ruddock: Eaga plc, the main contractor for the Warm Front Scheme, manages the appointment of all contractors to the scheme and complies with EU procurement regulations for all contracted works. The regulations require that offers to tender are placed in the  Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU).
	Installers interested in working on the Warm Front Scheme are entered into a fair and transparent competitive tender process. Fundamental to the process are an interrogation of installer policy, compliance with instructions, professional qualification and financial security. Policies interrogated include:
	health and safety;
	quality assurance;
	customer care;
	training;
	environmental and waste reduction; and
	qualification to professionally recognised standards such as Corgi, NICEIC, BBA, dependant on measure(s) bid for.
	Given the vulnerable customer base the scheme serves, the bar is set extremely high in terms of safety, customer care and financial probity.
	Eaga continually reviews its contractor base and is always willing to receive expressions of interest. The next round of tendering is due to begin on 3 November 2008.

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change in how many and what proportion of cases the cost of Warm Front work recommended exceeded the available grant in  (a) Leicester and  (b) nationally and resulted in the householder being asked to pay an excess amount in the latest period for which figures are available.

Joan Ruddock: The following table illustrates the number of households qualifying for assistance through the Warm Front Scheme and the number of client contributions requested over the period 1 April 2008 and 31 August 2008 in  (a) Leicester and  (b) England.
	
		
			  Area  Households qualifying for assistance  Households requested to contribute to costs  Percentage of contribution requests of all qualifying households 
			 Leicester, East 455 161 35 
			 Leicester, South 339 105 31 
			 Leicester, West 253 82 32 
			  (a) Leicester all 1,047 348 33 
			  (b) England all 104,507 26,074 25

Industrial Diseases: Compensation

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many former miners' compensation claims cases are awaiting responses in Scotland, broken down by constituency.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 13 October 2008
	 In Scotland, there are 1,037 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) claims that have not had a first time offer or denial and 953 COPD claims where offers have been made to which a response is awaited.
	For vibration white finger (VWF), only 50 claims in the UK in total have not had a first time offer or denial and 216 VWF claims where offers have been made to which a response is awaited.
	We are unable to break these figures down any further.

Industrial Diseases: Compensation

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the average settlement has been for  (a) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and  (b) vibration white finger claims submitted by the 10 solicitors' firms which have submitted the greatest number of claims under the Coal Miners' Compensation Scheme.

Mike O'Brien: The average settlement for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and vibration white finger (VWF) by the 10 claimants' representatives who have submitted the greatest number of claims is shown in the following tables as at 5 October 2008:
	
		
			  COPD 
			  Claimants' representative  Total claims  Total claims settled by payment  Average damages paid on claims settled by payment () 
			 Beresfords Solicitors 80,820 60,322 2,508 
			 Thompsons Solicitors 58,129 44,731 9,173 
			 Hugh James 56,810 41,080 7,231 
			 Raleys Solicitors 48,903 34,698 5,947 
			 Browell Smith and Co. 32,986 24,193 6,431 
			 Avalon Solicitors 32,414 18,917 2,263 
			 Mark Gilbert Morse 25,725 20,109 7,412 
			 Union of Democratic Mineworkers 16,588 13,712 3,105 
			 Barber and Co. 14,089 11,224 2,759 
			 Watson Burton LLP 14,072 12,350 4,358 
		
	
	
		
			  VWF 
			  Claimants representative  Total claims  Total claims settled by payment  Average damages paid on claims settled by payment () 
			 Thompsons Solicitors 21,228 16,820 16,341 
			 Browell Smith and Co. 16,463 11,875 10,780 
			 Beresfords Solicitors 11,619 7,236 10,381 
			 Union of Democratic Mineworkers 11,521 9,931 10,593 
			 Raleys Solicitors 11,279 9,868 12,273 
			 Hugh James 10,637 8,513 11,275 
			 Graysons Solicitors 8,700 7,153 15,520 
			 Moss Solicitors 7,398 5,016 10,476 
			 Watson Burton LLP 5,935 5,020 17,047 
			 Towells Solicitors 5,367 4,193 12,416

Industrial Diseases: Compensation

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much was claimed under the Coal Miners' Compensation Scheme by  (a) former miners and  (b) former miners' families in Scotland in each of the last three years.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 14 October 2008
	The following table lists compensation paid to former miners and their families under the Coal Miners' Compensation Schemes in Scotland in each of the last three years. For completeness we have also provided similar data on 2008 to date and the period prior to 2005.
	
		
			   
			   Paid to miners  Paid to miners' families  Total 
			  COPD claims as at 12 October 2008
			 2005 (pre) 38,296,226 75,257,346 113,553,572 
			 2005 17,339,241 31,820,711 49,159,952 
			 2006 5,697,733 29,554,138 35,251,871 
			 2007 1,266,660 16,436,719 17,703,379 
			 2008 (to date) 520,961 7,474,888 7,995,849 
			 Total 63,120,821 160,543,802 223,664,623 
			 
			  VWF claims as at 12 October 2008
			 2005 (pre) 65,270,543 6,751,087 72,021,629 
			 2005 11,443,169 2,420,652 13,863,820 
			 2006 10,430,048 3,775,891 14,205,939 
			 2007 15,289,086 1,798,400 17,087,486 
			 2008 (to date) 12,404,982 868,395 13,273,376 
			 Total 114,837,827 15,614,424 130,452,251

Nuclear Power Stations

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the potential impact on the price of electricity of proposals by energy companies to build new nuclear power stations.

Mike O'Brien: The Department published an analysis of the cost of nuclear power compared with alternative forms of generation as part of the 2006 Energy Review. The analysis is available at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file39525.pdf.
	It showed that nuclear is the cheapest low carbon generation option and will help us to meet our carbon dioxide reduction targets at least cost.
	The analysis did not cover the impact of new nuclear power stations on the price of electricity. This is determined by a variety of factors in the wholesale market, in particular the marginal source of generation, which is usually a fossil fuel generator.

Nuclear Power: Safety

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the oral response to the hon. Member for St. Albans (Anne Main) of 30 June 2008,  Official Report, column 628W, what consideration the Government has given to risks other than those of safety in planning of nuclear expansion.

Mike O'Brien: The Government committed to an extensive public consultation last year on the future of nuclear power. The consultation document 'Future of Nuclear Power' which we published in May last year and the Nuclear White Paper published in January set out in detail how the Government had carefully considered the issues in relation to nuclear energy.
	In addition to the safety issue, these documents explain how we have considered matters related to: economics, security, health, non-proliferation, transport, waste and decommissioning, ethics, the environment, supply of nuclear fuel, supply chain and skills capacity and reprocessing.

Oil: Prices

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps the Government is taking to ensure that falls in the price of oil are passed on to drivers via the pump price.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 16 October 2008
	The Government believe that efficient and competitive markets for wholesale and retail fuel are the most effective means to pass falls in the oil price on to drivers. In order to ensure competitive pricing, the Office of Fair Trading monitors the UK petrol and diesel market. It is empowered to act if the price level appears to be the result of anti-competitive behaviour. The best way of ensuring a competitive market is for consumers to shop around to support trades who reduce prices and punish those who do not by not buying there.

Radioactive Materials

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will instruct the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority to release the full unredacted version of the macro-economic study of United Kingdom plutonium and uranium stocks and options for future management.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 14 October 2008
	I do not intend to instruct the NDA to release the full version of their Uranium and Plutonium: Macro-Economic Study paper as it contains security and commercial information that is restricted. The public version of the document has since been supplemented by the NDA's Plutonium Options Paper that was recently published on their website.

Radioactive Wastes: Waste Management

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the annual budget of his Department  (a) is in 2008-09 and  (b) will be in 2009-10; how much of the budget in each year is attributable to the costs of nuclear decommissioning and the handling of nuclear waste; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 15 October 2008
	The machinery of government changes of 3 October 2008 announced the creation of the Department of Energy and Climate Change, formed from the Energy Group located in the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and the Climate Change Group located in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
	The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will transfer their budgets for energy and climate change respectively to the new Department, based on the settlements agreed in the comprehensive spending review 2007 (CSR07), for the financial years 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11. The annual budgets for the Department of Energy and Climate Change will be agreed in due course.
	The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) ensures that civil nuclear sites are managed, decommissioned and cleaned up safely, securely, cost-effectively and in ways that protect the environment. The NDA was assigned a programme budget of 1.53 billion in the comprehensive spending review 2007 (CSR07) for 2008-09, and 1.61 billion for 2009-10.

Renewable Energy: Standards

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the timescale is for issuing a statement on the proportion of the 2020 renewables target to be met by  (a) Northern Ireland,  (b) Scotland and  (c) Wales.

Mike O'Brien: The Government will publish a new Renewable Energy Strategy in spring 2009. The strategy will set out how we will meet the UK's share of the 2020 target, and may include scenarios for geographical distribution.

Warm Front Scheme

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much was spent under the Warm Front Scheme on improving the energy efficiency of park home residents in 2006-07.

Joan Ruddock: Although Warm Front does provide measures to park home properties, we do not classify these properties separately in our records, and therefore do not hold accessible data on the total spend for park homes.

Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what progress the Government made in  (a) 2006,  (b) 2007 and  (c) in the first nine months of 2008 on meeting the targets arising under the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: Tackling fuel poverty is a priority for the Government. Since 2000, the Government have spent 20 billion on fuel poverty benefits and programmes. The UK Fuel Poverty Strategy was published in November 2001 and sets out the approach of the Government (and the Devolved Administrations) for tackling fuel poverty. The latest version of the Fuel Poverty Strategy reflects the requirements of the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act to do all that is reasonably practicable to end fuel poverty amongst the vulnerable by 2010.
	From 1996 to 2004, the Government made good progress with 4 million households lifted out of fuel poverty as a result of our energy efficiency programmes, falling energy prices and rising incomes.
	The 2005 figures show fuel poverty levels were also significantly below 1996 levels with approximately 2.5 million households in fuel poverty, of which an estimated 2 million were vulnerable, although these figures do show an increase in fuel poverty of 0.5 million since 2004, reflecting the impact of rising energy prices.
	The Government's Sixth Annual Progress Report on Fuel Poverty was published on 2 October 2008. It shows that in 2006 there were approximately 3.5 million households in fuel poverty across the UK, an increase of 1 million households since 2005. Around 2.75 million of these are vulnerable households (containing children, the elderly or a person who is disabled or suffering from a long-term illness).
	In England, the overall number of households estimated to be in fuel poverty in 2006 is 2.4 million of which around 1.9 million are vulnerable. This represents a rise of 900,000 households since 2005 and a rise of 700,000 vulnerable households over the same period.
	The rise in the number of households in fuel poverty during 2006 was due to increases in consumer energy prices. The overall cost of energy to domestic consumers rose by 22 per cent. in real terms between 2005 and 2006, with gas prices rising by 29 per cent. and electricity prices rising by 19 per cent.
	Official figures for 2007 will not be available until next year, however indicative projections for 2007 and 2008 were published in the Sixth Annual Progress Report, copies of which have been placed in the Library. The projections made for 2007 in England show that further price rises are likely to have pushed a further 0.7 million households into fuel poverty, which would mean a total of around 3.1 million households. Projections for 2008 show a further increase in fuel poverty for England of around 0.5 million households; this amounts to a total of around 3.6 million households. These projections are based on known price changes along with estimates for income and energy efficiency improvements.

Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when the fuel poverty strategy required by the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000 was published; what changes have been made to it since publication; what discussions he has had with energy companies on it since its publication; what discussions he has had with HM Treasury on the strategy; what recent representations he has received on it; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: The UK Fuel Poverty Strategy was published in November 2001. It sets out the approach of the Government (and the Devolved Administrations) to tackling fuel poverty. It defined the interim target to seek an end to the blight of fuel poverty for vulnerable households by 2010.
	In September 2002, a joint consultation was issued by Defra and the then-DTI seeking views on proposals to clarify the duties provided for in the Fuel Poverty Strategy for England. The revision to the FPS was announced in December 2002.
	Following the December 2002 revision, the Fuel Poverty Strategy in relation to England now states:
	In England, the Government as far as reasonably practicable will seek an end to fuel poverty for vulnerable households by 2010. The as far as reasonably practicable qualification was introduced into the interim target in order better to reflect the nature of the commitment which the Government had undertaken in relation to the final target. It emphasises that the Government could not be committed, in the interim, to the eradication of fuel poverty whatever the cost of the necessary measures and regardless of the amount of money which could properly be made available for fuel poverty measures.
	Fuel poverty in other households in England will, as far as reasonably practicable, also be tackled as progress is made on those groups, with a target that by 22 November 2016 no person in England should have to live in fuel poverty.
	Vulnerable households are households including older householders (those aged 60 or more), families with children and householders who are disabled or suffering from a long-term illness.
	Ministers are in regular contact with energy suppliers and other stakeholders to discuss fuel poverty, among other issues. As announced in the 2008 Budget, the Government negotiated a voluntary agreement with each of the six main energy suppliers which means that the total level of assistance offered to vulnerable households by suppliers will increase from 100 million in 2008-09, to 125 million in 2009-10 and 150 million in 2010-11.
	Ministers in the new Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) will continue discussions with colleagues in other Departments with links to fuel poverty issues including those in HM Treasury, Communities and Local Government, Department of Work and Pensions and the Department of Health.
	Friends of the Earth and Help the Aged brought a claim for judicial review against the Secretary of State alleging a continuing failure to perform his duties outlined in the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000. The case was dismissed; the court has, however, granted the claimants the right to appeal.
	The Government remain committed to tackling fuel poverty. While recent energy prices have made the challenge more difficult, we keep the position under constant examination and develop our approach as the situation changes.

JUSTICE

Christmas

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many Christmas functions  (a) he,  (b) officials from his Department and  (c) officials from its executive agencies (i) hosted and (ii) attended in 2007-08; what the cost to the public purse was; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The information requested is listed as follows.
	 Secretary of State for Justice.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor (Jack Straw) hosted one official Christmas function in 2007-08. This was an informal event at which approximately 50 officials attended and it was requested that each official should provide their own drinks. A minimal amount was spent on the provision of refreshments, the total cost of which did not exceed 50.
	The Secretary of State for Justice did not attend any Christmas functions other than the one he hosted.
	 Ministry of Justice HQ and Associated Offices, HM Courts Service, The Tribunals Service, Office of the Public Guardian, National Offender Management Service including HM Prison Service and National Probation Service, Office for Criminal Justice Reform.
	Attendance at and hosting of hospitality events including Christmas parties by departmental staff may be recorded in local hospitality registers, in accordance with Ministry of Justice policy. This data is not collated centrally, and gathering information from local registers (including operational establishments) would be possible only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department does not fund Christmas parties although staff may personally contribute towards the cost of such an event.
	At any time of year awards may be made through the reward and recognition scheme in line with departmental guidelines for team celebrations including modest parties.

Dangerous Driving: Satellite Navigation Systems

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prosecutions there have been for the offences of  (a) careless driving,  (b) causing death by careless driving and  (c) causing death by dangerous driving following inappropriate use of a satellite navigation device in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: In 2006 (latest available), there were 37,994 and 336 prosecutions for the offences of careless driving and causing death by dangerous driving respectively. 2007 data will be available later this year. The new offence of causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving was commenced on 18 August 2008. 2008 data will be available late in 2009.
	The information on prosecutions for motoring offences held by my Department does not identify the circumstances surrounding the case or the precise behaviour of the driver that led to the offence being committed e.g. inappropriate use of a satellite navigation device. The only case information captured for such prosecutions, apart from court results for individual offences, is the age and gender of the defendant.

Departmental Official Visits

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was spent on overnight accommodation by his Department's civil servants in the last 12 months.

Maria Eagle: It is not possible to list the costs spent on overnight accommodation by the Department in the last 12 months as the expenditure is not separately identifiable with the Department's accounts and may be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	All official travel by civil servants is undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

Departmental Older Workers

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people aged over  (a) 55 and  (b) 60 years were recruited by his Department in 2007-08; and what percentage in each case this was of the number of new recruits.

Michael Wills: 690 people aged 55 and over were recruited by the Ministry of Justice in 2007-08. This represents 7 per cent. of all new recruits in 2007-08. 262 people aged 60 and over were recruited by the Ministry of Justice in 2007-08. This represents 3 per cent. of all new recruits in 2007-08.

Departmental Procurement

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will place in the Library the names and addresses of each organisation that supplied goods and services to his Department in 2007-08, based on the purchase order data held in his Department's financial database.

Maria Eagle: The payee supplier databases within Ministry of Justice hold records of approximately 144,000 payees.
	It would be possible to extract the data requested only at disproportionate cost to the Department.

Departmental Recruitment

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many civil servants in his Department were recruited through the fast stream; and what the average salary of those officials is.

Michael Wills: At present the Ministry of Justice has 72 fast streamers working within MoJ including six who were internal candidates. 21 were recruited via the 2008 competition.
	The pay range for MoJ Fast Streamers is 28,000 to 41,250.
	Information is not kept centrally on the number of staff in the MoJ who were recruited through the Fast Stream and could be collated only at a disproportionate cost.

Departmental Temporary Employment

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which companies were used by his Department for providing temporary staff in each year since it was established; and what the value of contracts with each such company was in each of those years.

Michael Wills: The Ministry of Justice was established on 9 May 2007. The Department has a contract with Kelly Services and makes use of a framework contract established by the Home Office which gives access to a number of suppliers.
	The following table gives details of the companies who have provided temporary staff, together with contract values, under these arrangements for the financial year 2007-08.
	
		
			  Company  Expenditure () 
			 Kelly Services (UK) Ltd. 11,971,709 
			 Brook Street plc 811,814 
			 Hays Specialist Recruitment 263,482 
			 Reed Employment 439,111 
			 Employment Plus 10,339 
			 NRG Group 79,334 
			 Office Angels 81,370 
		
	
	The Department also utilises other agencies to meet any additional temporary staffing requirements. Information relating to these arrangements is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Driving Offences

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many drivers under the age of 25 years were prosecuted for driving over the permitted alcohol limit in each region of England and Wales in  (a) each of the last 10 years and  (b) 2008 to date;
	(2)  how many drivers under the age of 25 years were prosecuted for driving under the influence of drugs in each region of England and Wales in  (a) each of the last 10 years and  (b) 2008 to date;
	(3)  how many people were prosecuted for driving under the influence of drugs in each region of England and Wales in  (a) each of the last 10 years and  (b) 2008 to date.

Maria Eagle: Data on prosecutions for the specific offence of driving over the prescribed alcohol limit are available only on a national (England and Wales) basis. They are given in the following table. Data on prosecutions for all offences of driving after consuming alcohol or drugs, broken down by region, are also given. It is not possible to identify separately how many of these prosecutions involved drugs and how many alcohol. 2007 data will be available later this year; 2008 data will be available late in 2009.
	
		
			  Table A: Proceedings at magistrates courts for driving etc. after consuming alcohol or taking drugs( 1) , by age group, and by Government office region, 1997, 2000 and 2006 
			  Number of offences 
			   1997  2000  2006 
			  Government office region  Under age 25  Total all ages  Under age 25  Total all ages  Under age 25  Total all ages 
			 North East 1,407 5,142 1,558 5,034 1,634 5,000 
			 North West 3,717 15,218 3,738 13,353 4,188 13,969 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 2,364 9,873 2,330 8,748 2,717 9,060 
			 East Midlands 2,191 8,361 1,870 6,974 2,228 7,635 
			 West Midlands 2,815 12,496 2,267 9,818 2,873 11,059 
			 East 2,558 9,698 2,306 8,175 2,716 10,191 
			 London 3,691 19,457 2,963 14,359 3,103 15,138 
			 South East 3,839 15,369 3,896 14,596 4,059 14,141 
			 South West 2,472 9,397 2,190 8,272 2,606 8,538 
			 Wales 2,003 7,176 1,999 6,831 2,107 6,692 
			 England and Wales 27,057 112,187 25,117 96,160 28,231 101,423 
			 (1) Data provided covers summary offences of driving etc. after consuming alcohol or taking drugs (which cannot be reliably distinguished separately).  Notes: 1. It is known that for some police force areas, the reporting of court proceedings in particular those relating to summary motoring offences, may be less than complete. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Proceedings at magistrates courts for offences of 'driving or attempting to drive a motor vehicle while having a breath, urine or blood alcohol concentration in excess of the prescribed limit'( 1) , by age group and Government office region, 1997, 2000 and 2006 
			  Number of offences 
			   1997  2000  2006 
			  Government office region  Under age 25  Total all ages  Under age 25  Total all ages  Under age 25  Total all ages 
			 North East 1,115 4,044 1,199 3,863 1,416 4,108 
			 North West 3,034 12,249 3,129 10,500 3,585 11,391 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 1,951 7,800 1,926 6,860 2,348 7,395 
			 East Midlands 1,885 6,788 1,519 5,364 1,920 6,144 
			 West Midlands 2,352 10,024 1,893 7,576 2,472 8,848 
			 East 2,219 8,064 1,984 6,707 2,349 8,428 
			 London 2,878 14,161 2,318 10,218 2,380 10,870 
			 South East 3,316 12,870 3,380 12,168 3,517 11,758 
			 South West 2,166 7,758 1,868 6,599 2,260 6,957 
			 Wales 1,640 5,746 1,626 5,209 1,809 5,454 
			 England and Wales 22,556 89,504 20,842 75,064 24,056 81,353 
			 (1) Offences under s5(1)(a) Road Traffic Act 1988.  Notes: 1. It is known that for some police force areas, the reporting of court proceedings in particular those relating to summary motoring offences, may be less than complete. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table C: Proceedings at magistrates' courts for offences of 'being in charge of a motor vehicle while having a breath, urine or blood alcohol concentration in excess of the prescribed limit'( 1) , by age group and Government office region, 1997, 2000 and 2006 
			  Number of offences 
			   1997  2000  2006 
			  Government office region  Under age 25  Total all ages  Under age 25  Total all ages  Under age 25  Total all ages 
			 North East 41 158 70 219 33 96 
			 North West 100 399 123 417 68 303 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 73 291 58 237 43 159 
			 East Midlands 79 282 66 241 50 187 
			 West Midlands 72 341 65 322 61 279 
			 East 73 297 46 236 52 240 
			 London 129 759 117 703 111 649 
			 South East 152 572 126 472 71 326 
			 South West 62 307 53 250 55 228 
			 Wales 44 157 48 169 48 128 
			 England and Wales 825 3,563 772 3,266 592 2,595 
			 (1) Offences under s5(1)(b) Road Traffic Act 1988.  Notes: 1. It is known that for some police force areas, the reporting of court proceedings in particular those relating to summary motoring offences, may be less than complete. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Driving Offences: Insurance

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average sentence imposed by magistrates' courts for those found guilty of driving without car insurance was in the latest period for which information is available.

Maria Eagle: In 2006, the majority (94 per cent.) of offenders sentenced for 'using a motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks' received a fine.
	The offence of driving without insurance is a summary offence. If the person committed a further offence while driving without insurance, such as causing injury to any person, they would be sentenced for the more serious crime.
	Statistics for 2007 will be published at the end of November.
	
		
			  Number of persons sentenced( 1)  for the offence of using motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks, by result, magistrates courts, 2006. England and Wales 
			  Number of persons 
			   Using motor vehicle uninsured against third party risks 
			 Total number sentenced 191,469 
			  Result  
			 Absolute discharge 2,220 
			 Conditional discharge 3,885 
			 Community penalty 2,501 
			 Fine 179,871 
			 Other sentences 2,992 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis.  Notes: 1. These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.  2. Only four people received immediate custody at the magistrates court, with so few people sentenced the average custodial sentence length should be treated with caution.  Source:  OMS Analytical Services

Law

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice under what circumstances the  (a) existence and  (b) content of a legal (i) practice direction and (ii) code of practice may not be placed in the public domain.

Jack Straw: The Freedom of Information Act 2000 governs public access to official information. Requests for information are considered on a case by case basis. One or more of the exemptions identified in Part II of the Act might apply in some instances, including the provision to neither confirm nor deny whether a public authority holds the requested information.

Mentally Disturbed Offenders

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the number of convicted prisoners with severe psychiatric disorders in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: No annual assessment is made of the number of convicted prisoners with severe psychiatric disorders. However, we are aware that there are a number of people in custody in England and Wales who experience mental health problems. The 1997 Office for National Statistics' survey, for example, indicated that as many as 58 per cent. of male and 75 per cent. of female remand prisoners, and 39 per cent. of male and 62 per cent. of female sentenced prisoners met criteria for a diagnosis of anxiety and/or depression. Rates of psychotic illness were also higher than in the general population.
	Accurate identification of people needing mental health treatment and care is important at all stages in the care and offender pathway. This is why all prisoners are screened at reception for risks of mental ill health and previous history of psychiatric treatment. The Offender Assessment System (OASys) helps to ensure that any person judged to be at risk and/or of needing mental health treatment and care can be identified and referred, where appropriate, to the mental health in-reach team.
	By 2005-06 nearly 20 million was being invested recurrently in mental health in-reach. There are now 102 MH in-reach teams and all prisons now have access to them: a total of 360 extra staff altogether. There are also new systems to monitor and support those at risk of harming themselves.

Prisoners Release: Re-offenders

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many of the alleged further offences committed by offenders on end of custody licence since 29 June 2007 were  (a) murder,  (b) attempted murder,  (c) manslaughter and other homicide,  (d) wounding and  (e) other violence against the person.

Jack Straw: As of 31 August 2008, 36,661 offenders have been placed on the end of custody licence scheme (ECL), of whom 1,244 have been recalled to custody, as notified to the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) by 19 September 2008. During the same period, there have been 723 alleged further offences committed by 529 offenders during their period of ECL. 1 per cent. of offenders have allegedly re-offended during their period of ECL.
	The following table gives a breakdown of those offenders notified to NOMS by 22 October 2008 as having allegedly committed a further offence of violence against the person during their period on ECL.
	
		
			  Alleged further offence  Number of alleged further offences 
			 Murder 3 
			 Attempted murder 0 
			 Manslaughter and other homicide 0 
			 Wounding 8 
			 Other violence against the person 170 
			 Total 181 
		
	
	Aggregate data on ECL release and recall, which has been published monthly since the scheme began, can be found at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/endofcustodylicence.htm
	Data for the month of September, including recalls notified to NOMS by the end of 17 October 2008, will be published on 31 October 2008.

Religion: Discrimination

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether the Government plans to bring forward legislative proposals to remove the prohibition on Catholics or their spouses from succeeding to the throne.

Jack Straw: To bring about changes to the law on succession would be a complex undertaking involving amendment or repeal of a number of items of related legislation, as well as requiring the consent of legislatures of member nations of the Commonwealth. We are prepared to consider the arguments in this complex area but have no immediate plans to legislate.

Repossession Orders: Hampshire

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many house repossession orders were laid before the courts in Hampshire in each of the last 12 months, broken down by county court.

Bridget Prentice: The tables show the numbers of mortgage and landlord possession claims issued and orders made in each county court in Hampshire over the 12 months to June 2008.
	Court level statistics on mortgage and landlord repossession actions from 1987 to 2007 are available on the Ministry of Justice website at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/mortgatelandlordpossession.htm
	These figures do not indicate how many houses have been repossessed through the courts, since not all the orders will have resulted in the issue and execution of warrants of possession.
	The civil procedure rules state that all claims for the repossession of land must be commenced in the district in which the land is situated. As county courts' jurisdictions are not coterminous with the borough boundaries, any single court's repossession actions are likely to relate to homes in a number of different boroughs.
	
		
			  Table 1: mortgage possession claims issued in the county courts of Hampshire in the year to June 2008, broken down by count and month 
			   Aldershot and Farnham  Basingstoke  Portsmouth  Southampton  Winchester 
			   Claims issued  Orders made( 1)  Claims issued  Orders made( 1)  Claims issued  Orders made( 1)  Claims issued  Orders made( 1)  Claims issued  Orders made( 1) 
			  2007   
			 July 75 38 36 18 151 56 86 61 14 5 
			 August 50 43 32 12 103 86 82 55 5 7 
			 September 48 41 21 18 101 125 59 59 6 3 
			 October 50 44 36 24 126 51 79 50 9 8 
			 November 45 26 42 12 125 56 96 64 8 2 
			 December 35 16 26 22 111 61 69 49 6 5 
			
			  2008   
			 January 51 37 30 30 155 77 90 73 14 5 
			 February 55 26 45 21 164 89 81 65 6 5 
			 March 45 34 31 17 118 104 83 53 10 2 
			 April 49 44 45 31 144 98 72 71 11 6 
			 May 62 16 28 22 135 92 88 51 4 6 
			 June 37 52 26 32 130 125 85 66 9 6 
			 (1) Includes outright and suspended orders, the later being where the court grants the claimant possession but suspends the operation of the order. Provided the defendant complies with the terms of suspension, which usually requires the defendant to pay the current mortgage instalments plus some of the accrued arrears, the possession order cannot be enforced.  Notes: 1. Mortgage possession data include all types of lenders whether local authority or private. 2. The court, following a judicial hearing, may grant an order for possession immediately. This entitles the claimant to apply for a warrant to have the defendant evicted. However, even where a warrant for possession is issued, the parties can still negotiate a compromise to prevent eviction. 3. Although orders made will be less than claims issued overall, in a given month it is possible for the former figure to exceed the latter as a result of time lags in the process (typically around eight weeks from claim issue to order).  Source: Ministry of Justice 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: landlord possession claims issued in the county courts of Hampshire in the year to June 2008, broken down by count and month 
			   Aldershot and Farnham  Basingstoke  Portsmouth  Southampton  Winchester 
			   Claims issued  Orders made( 1)  Claims issued  Orders made( 1)  Claims issued  Orders made( 1)  Claims issued  Orders made( 1)  Claims issued  Orders made( 1) 
			  2007   
			 July 32 60 56 24 128 69 98 58 15 6 
			 August 56 30 46 30 174 66 98 64 19 12 
			 October 41 34 46 25 126 87 84 65 3 4 
			 September 41 30 42 50 122 54 134 79 16 8 
			 November 45 26 32 29 136 78 87 83 8 10 
			 December 28 17 31 21 103 72 92 52 10 7 
			
			  2008   
			 January 89 52 39 34 149 75 97 85 6 7 
			 February 49 47 47 32 119 72 87 106 15 7 
			 March 61 48 17 18 119 84 89 77 16 11 
			 April 46 54 36 29 87 78 118 96 8 13 
			 May 39 36 47 20 90 57 82 80 5 3 
			 June 38 47 47 37 93 85 103 78 13 7 
			 (1) Includes outright and suspended orders, the later being where the court grants the claimant possession but suspends the operation of the order. Provided the defendant complies with the terms of suspension, which usually requires the defendant to pay the current mortgage instalments plus some of the accrued arrears, the possession order cannot be enforced.  Notes: 1. Landlord possession data include all types of landlord whether local authority, housing associations or private. 2. The court, following a judicial hearing, may grant an order for possession immediately. This entitles the claimant to apply for a warrant to have the defendant evicted. However, even where a warrant for possession is issued, the parties can still negotiate a compromise to prevent eviction. 3. Although orders made will be less than claims issued overall, in a given month it is possible for the former figure to exceed the latter as a result of time lags in the process (typically around eight weeks from claim issue to order).  Source: Ministry of Justice

Shoplifting: Sentencing

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he plans to respond to the results of the consultation on the sentencing guidelines for shoplifting; what recent representations he has received on the sentencing guidelines for shoplifting; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: The Government responded in June this year to the independent Sentencing Guidelines Council's consultation guideline on sentencing for the offences of theft and burglary (non-dwelling). I am advised that MOJ has received no representations on the consultation sentencing guideline for the offence of theft from a shop.

Television: Licensing

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many proceedings for television licence evasion were brought in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and how many cases resulted in  (a) a fine and  (b) imprisonment in each year.

David Hanson: The number of proceedings brought to court in each financial year since April 2002 for non-payment of a television licence is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  April to March each year  Number of proceedings brought to court 
			 2002-03 4,893 
			 2003-04 4,903 
			 2004-05 5,471 
			 2005-06 5,006 
			 2006-07 6,532 
			  Note: Data sourced from TV Licensing authorities. 
		
	
	In calendar year 2007, of 5,901 people prosecuted for non-payment of a television licence, 4,464 received fines. None were imprisoned. The corresponding information for the years prior to 2007 is not available.

Television: Licensing

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 7 July, how many of the fines levied in the period between 2002 and 2006 have been paid  (a) in part and  (b) in whole; and in respect of how many cases enforcement action for non-payment has been taken.

Maria Eagle: Information on paid, part paid and unpaid fines from television licence convictions is not collected centrally.
	It is therefore not possible to establish the total of unpaid television licence fines or the number of television licence cases that have resulted in enforcement action.
	The information collected by my Department identifies the number of television licence convictions ordered to be paid and the number and amounts of court fines issued for such offences within each region.
	The overall payment rate for all financial penalties in the financial year to September 2008 is 87 per cent. The payment rate excluding the value of administrative cancellations for the same period is 75 per cent.

Television: Licensing

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 7 July, what the  (a) average fine imposed and  (b) average period of imprisonment served was in each year between 2002 and 2006.

Maria Eagle: The information requested is shown in the following tables:
	
		
			  Average fine amount for off ences relating to t elevision  l icence evasion( 1) , 2002-06 
			   
			  Region  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 North East 109.6 115.4 103.1 104.9 123.5 
			 North West 106.9 102.2 109.2 115.3 122.3 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 90.6 104.2 101.5 112.5 121.4 
			 East Midlands 141.0 137.0 134.8 131.9 139.9 
			 West Midlands 131.3 136.2 141.0 152.4 158.8 
			 East of England 116.6 113.5 117.5 109.2 116.3 
			 London 100.7 106.7 110.4 130.3 133.8 
			 South East 112.9 123.4 130.2 126.4 137.0 
			 South West 120.3 115.6 111.4 117.4 126.1 
			 Wales 97.6 108.6 101.1 105.4 117.6 
			 Total England and Wales 110.5 114.7 115.5 121.8 129.4 
			 (1) The TV licensing provisions of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 were replaced by new provisions in the Communications Act 2003 which came into effect on 1 April 2004.   Notes:  1. These data are on the principle offence basis.  2. These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.  3. When answering previous parliamentary questions on this subject issues with data from certain police force areas were highlighted, however, this will only affect the numbers sentenced; average fine amounts will still be representative.   Source:  OMS Analytical services. 
		
	
	
		
			  Average time served of those committed to custody for non-payment of fines for offences relating to Television Licence evasion, 2002-06 
			  Average number of days served 
			 2002 4 
			 2003 6 
			 2004 4 
			 2005 10 
			 2006 4 
			  Notes:  1. The TV licensing provisions of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 were replaced by new provisions in the Communications Act 2003 which came into effect on 1 April 2004.  2. These data are on the principle offence basis.  3. These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.  4. Due to the small numbers involved these data are not presented by region.   Source: OMS Analytical services.

ViSOR System

Eleanor Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the running costs of the ViSOR system have been to date.

Vernon Coaker: I have been asked to reply.
	The central running costs of ViSOR to date are given in the following table:
	
		
			   
			   Maintenance and development  Depreciation  Total 
			 2003-04 5,207,740 1,041,548 6,249,288 
			 2004-05 1,421,992 260,699 1,682,691 
			 2005-06 1,732,154 1,418,267 3,150,421 
			 2006-07 1,768,837 1,599,567 3,368,404 
			 2007-08 1,821,902 1,554,059 3,375,961 
			 Total 11,952,625 5,874,140 17,826,765

War Crimes: Arrest Warrants

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  which overseas governments have made representations to the Government to change legislation on war crimes to prevent the issuing of arrest warrants without the approval of the Attorney General;
	(2)  when he plans to announce whether he plans to propose changes to legislation on war crimes to prevent the issuing of arrest warrants without Attorney General approval; and whether such changes would require primary legislation.

Jack Straw: The Israeli Government have previously raised the Almog case. The content of those discussions is confidential.
	The prosecution of certain offences, including war crimes and other offences under section 51 of the International Criminal Court Act 2001, requires the consent of either the Attorney-General or the Director of Public Prosecutions. Such consent is not required for the issue of an arrest warrant. The Government are continuing to consider whether and, if so, how to change the law in this area. Any proposals for legislation would be announced to Parliament in the normal way.

Wiring Up Youth Justice Programme

Eleanor Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost to date has been of running the Wiring Up Youth Justice programme.

David Hanson: Over the last two and a half years, the Wiring Up Youth Justice Programme has spent approximately 24.9 million.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Compensation: Fisheries

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much fishermen received to date under the Icelandic Fishermen's Compensation Scheme, broken down by port.

Patrick McFadden: Individual payments to each fisherman are confidential. The total payments made under the scheme by port are as follows:-
	
		
			   million 
			 Hull 18.3 
			 Grimsby 9.8 
			 Fleetwood 4.4 
			 Aberdeen 1.6 
			 Others 8.5

Departmental Civil Service Agencies

Michael Ancram: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many agencies were sponsored by his Department or its predecessors in  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 1997-98.

Patrick McFadden: The Next Steps Report 1997 (Cm3889) provides information on all Executive agencies as at 31 December 1997. Copies are available from the Library of the House. The most up-to-date list of Executive agencies is published in the Cabinet Office publication The List of Ministerial Responsibilities. The latest version, incorporating recent ministerial changes, will be published shortly. Copies will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Departmental Information and Communications Technology

Michael Ancram: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much his Department spent on upgrading its IT in each of the last three financial years.

Patrick McFadden: The Department has outsourced the provision and management of IT equipment and core IT services, through the ELGAR contract, to Fujitsu Services Ltd.
	The ELGAR contract runs until the end of FY 2013-14. The contract is based on PFI and integral to the provision is the inclusion of regular technical refreshes of the IT estate, including hardware, software and networks.
	Most IT spending in BERR is within the core and major services provided through the ELGAR contract, and these services have regular technical refreshes built into them. Depending on the nature of the IT service, refreshes occur every three or four years. Although this could be classified as upgrading the IT systems in BERR, it could also be considered as a necessary and planned means of keeping IT systems up to date, avoiding technical obsolescence.
	It is not possible to extract definitive values for technical refreshes, because the nature of PFI contracts means that costs are recovered over the life of the service as regular unitary monthly service charges and not in specific years they were incurred.
	Where IT spending occurs outside of the major ELGAR services, it would require the investigation and detailed analysis of many individual change requests to obtain a realistic figure. BERR consider that the considerable effort required to obtain this information is at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Marketing

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the cost was of  (a) internet and website design and hosting,  (b) print media design and  (c) broadcast media for each of his Department's public information campaigns since 1997.

Patrick McFadden: Most of the Department's public information campaigns, that is to say, series of coordinated activities designed to inform the public, are managed centrally and procured through the Central Office of Information (COI). Spend on costs for public information campaigns through COI is set out in the following table. Costs are for BERR and its predecessor, the DTI (together with the former Small Business Service).
	
		
			   Internet and website design and hosting( 1)  Print media design( 2)  Media costs for broadcast media( 3) 
			  2007-08
			 National Minimum Wage 11,591.25  392,297 
			 Firework safety 3,101.65   
			 Print design overall  659  
			 
			  2006-07
			 Energy White Paper 4,500   
			 Print design overall  5,498  
			 
			  2005-06
			 Consumer Direct   823,011 
			 DTI Best Practice online activity 57,482   
			 DTI Renewables 7,900   
			 Print design overall  10,397  
			 
			  2004-05
			 Consumer Direct 99,805  326,738 
			 DTI Information and consultation online 10,300.68   
			 Achieving Best Practice online 9,845   
			 DTI Renewable Campaign website 187,049   
			 Firework safety 32,025  152,527 
			 Print design overall  17,842  
			 
			  2003-04
			 Parental rights   20,544 
			 SBS Business Link   389,438 
			 
			  2002-03
			 UK Online for Business   1,783,070 
			 SBS Business Link   4,031,048 
			 Quality Mark   109,364 
			 (1 )Costs are indicative only. (2 )Costs provided are design costs incurred via the COI publications team. Some of the costs may not be related to campaigns. Costs may also cover items outside of conventional print media. (3 )TV, radio, cinema. 
		
	
	Figures for spend through COI before 2002 can be provided only at disproportionate costs.
	So far as departmental central records can be interrogated, they indicate that departmental spending overall on design was as follows. Please note we are unable to disaggregate spending on public information campaigns from general spending on design. To provide a more accurate breakdown could be done only at disproportionate cost. All costs are approximate.
	
		
			   Departmental spending overall on design () 
			 2007-08 700,000 
			 2006-07 344,000 
			 2005-06 913,000 
			 2004-05 1,509,000 
			 2003-04 809,000 
		
	
	Information for non-COI spend on internet and website design and hosting for public information campaigns could be gathered only at disproportionate cost.
	Broadcast advertising campaigns are usually only purchased through COI so the aforementioned figures from COI should be fairly representative of the Department's spending in this area.

Departmental Pay

David Simpson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many non-pensionable bonuses were awarded to members of staff in his Department in the last 12 months; and at what total cost.

Patrick McFadden: The Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform awards non-consolidated bonuses in two formats:
	1. Special bonuses to recognise performance in particularly demanding tasks or situations. Staff in receipt of a special bonus may also receive an annual performance award.
	2. Annual performance awards paid to highly successful performers as part of the annual pay award.
	Based on the information available, the number of staff receiving these awards and total amount of bonuses for which this information can be provided is in the following table.
	
		
			  Financial year( 1)  Special bonus  Performance awards 
			   Number of staff receiving  Total  value ()  Number of staff receiving  Total  value () 
			 2008-09 (2) (2) 1,033 (3)2,240,592 
			 2007-08(4) 1,238 693,386 1,065 (5)2,265,502 
			 (1) Financial year running from 1 April to 31 March.  (2) 2008-09 special bonus figures are not yet available.  (3 )Includes staff who were transferred from BERR to DECC as part of the October 2008 Machinery of Government changes as these staff received a BERR pay award in 2008.  (4) In 2007-8 the total value of bonuses paid was approximately 1.5 per cent of the total Department's paybill.  (5) Includes staff who were transferred from DTI to DIUS as part of the June 2007 Machinery of Government Changes as these staff received a DTI/BERR pay award in 2007. Does not include those staff transferred into BERR from Cabinet Office and the Department for Communities and Local Government as part of the June 2007 Machinery of Government Changes as these staff received Cabinet Office and DCLG pay awards respectively in 2007.   Note:  The special bonuses and performance awards for non-SCS staff are paid on a non-consolidated, non-pensionable basis and do not increase the Department's paybill costs each year. For the SCS the Senior Salaries Review Body determines the level of expenditure to cover bonuses.

Departmental Public Relations

Michael Ancram: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the cost was of  (a) entertainment,  (b) advertising and promotion and  (c) public relations consultancy to his Department in 2007-08.

Patrick McFadden: In 2007-08 the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform's total expenditure (including UK Trade and Investment and the Department's agencies) on  (a) entertainment and hospitality;  (b) advertising and promotion and  (c) public relations consultancy and marketing was as follows:
	
		
			   000 
			 Entertainment and hospitality 1,196.6 
			 Advertising and promotion 2,778.4 
			 Public relations consultancy and marketing 156.4 
		
	
	The information is taken directly from the Department's financial system and the categories may cover a wider range of expenditure than requested in the question.

Departmental Recruitment

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many civil servants in his Department were recruited through the fast stream; and what the average salary of those officials is.

Patrick McFadden: 269 civil servants working in the Department were originally recruited through the fast stream grade in the period for which this information is available (1997-2008). The average salary of these officials is 38,190.

Minimum Wage: Greater London

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many people living in each London borough received the national minimum wage at the latest date for which information is available.

Kevin Brennan: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated October 2008:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people living in each London borough received the national minimum wage at the latest date for which information is available. I am replying in her absence. (229398)
	Estimates for the number of jobs paid at the national minimum wage are not available from the Office for National Statistics. However, estimates for the number of all employee jobs paid below the national wage are, though the lowest geographical breakdown available is by Government Office Region.
	The number of jobs earning less than the national minimum wage for London region for all employees in 2007 was 23,000.
	A guide to measuring low pay and associated articles can be found on the National Statistics website at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=5837

Post Office: Marketing

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much the Post Office has spent on  (a) advertising and  (b) sponsorship in each of the last five years.

Patrick McFadden: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, Managing Director of POL, to reply direct to the hon. Member.
	Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Post Office: Motor Vehicles

Tim Farron: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will consider proposals for the Post Office network to have its terminals linked to the Motor Vehicle Licence Online system.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 21 October 2008
	Responsibility for the issue and renewal of motor vehicle excise licences, including the channels available to do so, rests with DVLA. The arrangements in place for renewal of licences at post offices are a contractual matter between DVLA and Post Office Ltd.

Post Offices

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many people used post offices for  (a) foreign currency transactions and  (b) submitting passport applications in the last 12 months.

Patrick McFadden: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, Managing Director of POL, to reply direct to the hon. Member.
	Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Post Offices: Chelmsford

Simon Burns: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many post offices and sub-post offices were closed in the Chelmsford local authority area in the periods between  (a) 1987 and 1996 and  (b) 1997 and 2008.

Patrick McFadden: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, Managing Director of POL, to reply direct to the hon. Member.
	Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Post Offices: Closure

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many letters his Department has received  (a) in favour of and  (b) opposed to post office closures in the last 12 months.

Patrick McFadden: The Department does not hold this information in the form requested. I understand that, nationally, Post Office Ltd. has received over 180,000 pieces of correspondence in response to the local area plan consultations on its Network Change proposals, half by e-mail (or whatever the proportion is).

Post Offices: Closures

Andrew Selous: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he expects Post Office Ltd. to make a decision on the future of Linslade Post Office in South West Bedfordshire constituency.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 23 October 2008
	The Linslade Post Office branch was part of the Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Area Plan. I understand that the proposal to close the branch is subject to the further review process by Postwatch, and Post Office Ltd. expect to communicate the final decision in the near future.

Post Offices: North Yorkshire

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will instruct Post Office Ltd. to make its accounts available to North Yorkshire County Council to allow that council to assess the financial viability of individual post offices in North Yorkshire.

Patrick McFadden: Post Office Ltd's annual accounts are filed at Companies House and are therefore publicly available on request. In certain circumstances, for example where a local authority is interested in funding post office and other community service provision after the closure of a post office branch, Post Office Ltd may be prepared to disclose the costs to them of operating an individual post office on a confidential basis, providing the local authority signs an appropriate non-disclosure agreement and the outlet meets the relevant criteria.

Regional Development Agencies: Bank Services

Eric Pickles: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much each regional development agency has invested or on deposit in Icelandic banks.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 17 October 2008
	Regional Development Agencies do not hold accounts in Icelandic banks.

Small Firms' Loan Guarantee

John Leech: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many businesses have been refused loans under the Small Firms' Loan Guarantee in each year since 2003.

Patrick McFadden: Decision-making on individual SFLG loans is delegated to participating lenders, who firstly must determine whether each business proposition is viable, before considering if SFLG is appropriate. Following implementation of changes recommended under the Graham Review in 2005, this Department no longer makes decisions on individual loans, and lenders are provided with a web-portal to determine formal approval of the guarantee. Therefore BERR does not hold any records on businesses that have not been granted loans under SFLG.

Taxis

Mark Prisk: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much was claimed in expenses for taxi travel by officials from  (a) his Department and  (b) its executive agencies in (i) 2006-07, (ii) 2005-06, (iii) 2004-05, (iv) 2003-04 and (v) 2002-03; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: Taxi spend incurred by officials in UK and Overseas travel is as follows:
	
		
			   
			 2006-07 349,075 
			 2005-06 386,443 
			 2004-05 342,928 
		
	
	Details for 2003-04 and for 2002-03 have not been retained and are therefore unavailable.
	 Letter from Gareth Jones, 27 October 2008:
	I am responding on behalf of Companies House to your recently tabled Parliamentary Question to the Minister of State for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
	Taxi fares form part of overall expense claims and are not recorded separately. The amount claimed in cost. Companies House does however have an account with a local taxi company and the amounts paid were as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Amount spent on taxi account () 
			 2006/7 17,887 
			 2005/6 17,484 
			 2004/5 16,924 
			 2003/4 14,519 
			 2002/3 13,964 
		
	
	 Letter from Stephen Speed, 27 October 2008:
	The Minister of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has asked me to reply to your question how much was claimed in expenses for taxi travel by officials from  (a) his Department and  (b) its executive agencies in (i) 2006-07, (ii) 2005-06, (iii) 2004-05, (iv) 2003-04 and (v) 2002-03.
	The Insolvency Service Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform replied to a similar question in PQ 3644 of 2007 that the Service is unable to extract details of annual taxi expenses as they are not separately recorded. All claims made in August 2008 were sampled which showed costs of 1,510 for taxi fares in that month. We therefore reported that we do not expect the annual cost of taxi fares to be more than 20,000.

Wind Power

Mark Williams: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the  (a) average gross income per annum and  (b) subsidy from the public purse for a large 2.5 MW installed capacity wind turbine was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Mike O'Brien: I have been asked to reply.
	The information is as follows:
	 (a) The Department does not hold information on income for wind farms. Generators agree a contract with suppliers for the sale of electricity and renewable obligation certificates (ROCs), and this information is therefore likely to be commercially confidential.
	 (b) The renewables obligation are the Government's main mechanism for supporting renewable energy. It does not pay a subsidy to generators from the public purse, but instead places an obligation on suppliers to source a specific and annually increasing proportion of their sales from renewable sources. Suppliers meet their obligation either by presenting ROCs, which are issued to generators for every MWh of eligible renewable generation; by paying a buy-out price; or a combination of presenting ROCs and paying the buy-out price. Money from the buy-out fund is recycled pro-rata to suppliers presenting ROCs.
	The price of a ROC is therefore set by the market. However, the nominal value of a ROC for a particular obligation period can be calculated by adding together the buy-out price and the recycled payment for that period. For 2007-08, this gives 34.30 + 18.59 = 52.89.

Wines

Alistair Burt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what his Department's practice is on supplying non-alcoholic wine as a choice at official receptions or functions.

Patrick McFadden: Non-alcoholic wine is available to order by function organisers within the Department from our contracted catering service provider, Baxter Storey.

World War II: Medals

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many people in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England were awarded a Bevin Boys badge in each year since the inception of the award.

Mike O'Brien: I have been asked to reply.
	Applications for the Bevin Boys Veterans badge are processed on behalf of DECC by the MOD's Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA). They inform me that as at 6 October 2008 a total 4,541 badges have been issued. Of these, two applicants have included the word Jarrow in their address and have received a Bevin Boys Veterans badge.
	Figures for the remaining areasSouth Tyneside, the north-east and Englandcan be provided only at disproportionate costs.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Death: Weather

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many excess deaths from cold weather there were in York in each year since 1996-97; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl,  dated  October 2008:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many excess deaths from cold weather there were in York in each year since 1996-97. I am replying in her absence. (230259)
	Estimates of excess winter deaths are based on the difference between the number of deaths during the four winter months (December to March) and the average number of deaths during the preceding four months (August to November) and the following four months (April to July). It is not possible to say whether these deaths were related to cold weather. The table attached provides the number of excess winter deaths in York unitary authority for the years 1996/97 to 2005/06 (the latest available).
	
		
			  Table 1: Excess winter deaths( 1, 2)( ) York unitary authority, 1996 - 97 to 2005 - 06 
			  Winter  Deaths (persons) 
			 1996-97 120 
			 1997-98 140 
			 1998-99 170 
			 1999-2000 160 
			 2000-01 180 
			 2001-02 140 
			 2002-03 120 
			 2003-04 80 
			 2004-05 100 
			 2005-06 80 
			 (1) The estimated number of excess winter deaths is the difference between the number of deaths during the four winter months (December to March) and the average number of deaths during the preceding four months (August to November) and the following four months (April to July). Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 to reflect the fact that they are estimates. (2) Data are based on deaths occurring in each month.

Departmental Temporary Employment

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which companies were used by his Department for providing temporary staff in each of the last five years; and what the value of contracts with each such company was in each of those years.

Kevin Brennan: Departmental records are not structured in a way that readily identifies which companies have been used for the provision of temporary staff to the Cabinet Office or the value of the contracts held. This information is therefore available only at disproportionate cost.

Foreign Workers

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate he has made of the number of foreign workers in employment who have lived in the UK for less than six months.

Kevin Brennan: holding answer 20 October 2008
	 The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated October 2008:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking for an estimate of the number of foreign workers in employment who have lived in the UK for less than six months. I am replying in her absence. (228442)
	Using the latest available Labour Force Survey (LFS) data, that is for April-June 2008, it is estimated that there were 55,000 foreign-born people aged 16 and over in employment who had been resident in the UK for less than six months and were living in private households.
	It should be noted that the LFS is a survey of private households only and excludes most kinds of communal establishments, such as hotels and hostels, in which foreign-born workers may also be resident.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty. In sampling error terms the above estimate is considered to be acceptable as the coefficient of variation (CV) lies between 10 and 20 per cent. The CV indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality.
	The figure is derived from the LFS microdata which are weighted using the official population estimates published in autumn 2007. They are not entirely consistent with the figures published in the monthly Labour Market Statistics First Release which are weighted using more up-to-date population estimates.

Lost Working Hours

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many hours of work in the United Kingdom were lost as a result of industrial action in each year since 1997.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl,  dated  October 2008:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question on how many hours of work in the United Kingdom have been lost as a result of industrial action in each year since 1997.1 am replying in her absence. (229383)
	The Office for National Statistics does not collect information on the number of hours of work lost as a result of industrial action, but does produce estimates of the number of working days lost.
	The Office for National Statistics compiles monthly labour disputes statistics for the UK. They exclude disputes that do not result in a stoppage of work, and stoppages involving fewer than ten workers or lasting less than one day, unless the total number of working days lost in the dispute is 100 or more.
	Table 1 attached provides estimates of working days lost in the United Kingdom between 1997 and 2007.
	
		
			  Working days lost (United Kingdom) 
			   Number 
			 1997 235 
			 1998 282 
			 1999 242 
			 2000 499 
			 2001 525 
			 2002 1,323 
			 2003 499 
			 2004 905 
			 2005 157 
			 2006 755 
			 2007 1,041

Methadone: Death

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many deaths attributed to methadone addiction were recorded in each of the last five years.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated October 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths attributed to methadone addiction have been recorded in each of the last five years. (229662)
	The attached table provides the numbers of deaths for which the underlying cause was drug poisoning and methadone was mentioned on the death certificate either alone or together with other substances, from 2003 to 2007 (the latest year available).
	The information collected at death registration does not specify whether the deceased was addicted to the substances mentioned as contributing to the death.
	
		
			  Table 1: Deaths attributed to drug poisoning( 1)  where methadone was mentioned on the death certificate, England and Wales, 2003 to 2007( 2, 3, 4) 
			  Number 
			   Methadone mentioned only  Methadone and other substances  Total mentions of methadone 
			 2003 74 127 201 
			 2004 105 114 219 
			 2005 98 122 220 
			 2006 125 116 241 
			 2007 167 158 325 
			 (1) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Deaths were included where the underlying cause was due to drug poisoning (shown in the table below) and where methadone was mentioned on the death certificate.  (2) Figures include deaths of non-residents.  (3) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.  (4) Where methadone was the only drug mentioned on the death certificate, and where methadone was mentioned with other substances. 
		
	
	
		
			  ICD-10  Description 
			 F11 to F16, F18 to F19 Mental and behavioural disorders due to drug use (excluding alcohol and tobacco) 
			 X40 to X44 Accidental poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances 
			 X60 to X64 Intentional self-poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances 
			 X85 Assault by drugs, medicaments and biological substances 
			 Y10 to Y14 Poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances, undetermined intent.

Minimum Wage: Chelmsford

Simon Burns: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people living in West Chelmsford constituency received no more than the national minimum wage at the latest date for which figures are available.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated October 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people living in West Chelmsford parliamentary constituency received no more than the national minimum wage at the latest date for which figures are available. (230516)
	Estimates for the number of jobs paid at the national minimum wage are not available from ONS. However, estimates for the number of all employee jobs paid below the national wage are available by Government Office Region. This is the lowest geographical breakdown published by ONS.
	The number of jobs earning less than the national minimum wage for the East region for all employees in 2007 was 27,000.
	A guide to measuring low pay and associated articles can be found on the National Statistics website at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=5837

Teenage Pregnancy: Disadvantaged

Tim Loughton: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proportion of women under 18 years old living in  (a) local authorities with a benefit claim rate of 10 per cent. or above and  (b) in the 10 local authorities with the lowest employment rate were recorded as becoming pregnant in each year since 1997.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Colin Mowl, dated October 2008:
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking what proportion of women under 18 years old living in (a) local authorities with a benefit claim rate of 10 per cent or above and (b) in the 10 local authorities with the lowest employment rate were recorded as becoming pregnant in each year since 1997. I am replying in her absence. (228726)
	The information requested is not readily available and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Unemployment: Young People

Tim Loughton: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the rate of youth unemployment was in each  (a) constituency,  (b) local authority and  (c) region in each of the last 10 years.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated October 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question what the rate of youth unemployment was in each (a) Constituency, (b) Local Authority and (c) Region in each of the last 10 years. (228728)
	Information in the form requested is not readily available and could only be compiled at disproportionate cost.
	It is possible to access information on unemployment within age groups and by constituency, local authority and region from the Office for National Statistics Nomis website: www.nomisweb.co.uk. This would involve creating a timeseries by combining estimates from the Annual Population Survey, Local Area Labour Force Survey and Labour Force SurveyAnnual. However, much of the data that could be obtained regarding small area youth unemployment would be suppressed on the grounds of disclosure or quality.
	Alternatively, counts of people aged 16-24 years claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) are also available at constituency, local authority and regional level from Nomis.
	Please note the JSA data available on the Nomis Website differ from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) definition of unemployment.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Chad: Armed Conflict

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the government of Sudan on its alleged support of armed groups in Chad; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: We have repeatedly called on the governments of Sudan and Chad to adhere to the Dakar Agreement of 13 March, which committed both governments to stop supporting each other's armed groups. The UK is an observer to the Dakar Contact Group, which monitors the implementation of this agreement.

Departmental Location

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what savings have been identified by his Department as a result of co-location of offices with the Department for International Development, broken down by country.

David Miliband: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office management information system does not provide the detail required to identify cost savings as a result of our co-location with the Department for International Development. To provide this information would incur disproportionate cost.

Foreign Policy: Human Rights

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will amend his Department's strategic priorities and policy goals to include the advancement of human rights and freedom of speech.

Gillian Merron: Human rights are at the heart of all the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) departmental strategic objectives. The Foreign Affairs Committee recommended in April 2007 that FCO work in support of human rights be fully integrated into the Government's pursuit of all its strategic foreign policy priorities. We therefore ensured that human rights were central to our new strategic framework which has been in place since April 2008. We remain committed to integrating human rights more effectively into all our work, whether on countering terrorism, preventing and resolving conflict, promoting solutions to climate change, developing more effective international institutions or supporting British nationals abroad.
	Human rights are central to achieving these strategic objectives. The FCO's latest Annual Human Rights Report shows how human rights will remain fully integrated in what we do, in London and through our network of posts around the world. A copy can be found at
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/fco-in-action/conflict/

India: Christianity

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the next round of the ad hoc EU-India human rights dialogue will take place; and whether the recent violence in Orissa state, India, will be on the agenda for discussion.

Bill Rammell: We understand that the EU presidency wrote to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs in September expressing concern over the recent violence in Orissa and requesting that the issue be included on the agenda for the next EU-India Human Rights Dialogue, which is due to be held before the end of 2008.

India: Religious Freedom

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of temple desecration in Goa, India; what assessment he has made of the scale of the problem; and what assistance the Government is providing to the Indian Government to deal with the  (a) causes and  (b) consequences of the problem.

Bill Rammell: We were concerned to hear reports of temple desecration in Goa. The government of India has not requested assistance, but our high commission in New Delhi continues to monitor all issues relating to religious freedom in India. Our staff have regular meetings with the appropriate Indian authorities and highlight our concerns about incidents involving religious intolerance and persecution.

North Africa

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what occasions he or officials from his Department have met representatives of the governments of  (a) Sudan and  (b) Libya since 1997.

Gillian Merron: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and his officials have met representatives of the Governments of Sudan regularly since 1997. Diplomatic relations between Libya and the UK were resumed in 1999. Since then UK officials have met regularly in Tripoli and London with the representatives of the Libyan Government.
	The Foreign Secretary met Sudanese Vice President Taha on 27 September in the margins of the United Nations General Assembly to discuss Darfur and the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between north and south Sudan.
	The Foreign Secretary met the Libyan Minister for Foreign Affairs, Abdurrahman Shalgam, on 7 January.
	In order to provide this information records would need to be collated from our various departments in London and posts overseas which would incur a disproportionate cost.

Pakistan: Crimes of Violence

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government has taken to assist Pakistan with reducing the incidence of racially-motivated murders in that country.

Bill Rammell: Sectarian violence is a serious problem in Pakistan. The recent murders of members of the Ahmadiyya community and the 6 October suicide attack in Bhakkar which killed 22 people are tragic examples. We support the Government of Pakistan in tackling such violence through a comprehensive strategy involving better security provision, development and improved governance, and we have stressed the importance to the Government of Pakistan of guaranteeing rights and political participation of all Pakistani citizens.

Peace Negotiations: Females

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 in promoting the role of women in post-conflict negotiations and reconstruction.

Bill Rammell: Eight years after the adoption of UN Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 1325, the resolution has had a positive impact on the inclusion of women in post-conflict negotiations and reconstruction. It has drawn international attention to the issue, it has resulted in greater inclusion of women in political dialogue in countries where the UN Peacebuilding Commission is operating, and mandates for UN peacekeeping missions now routinely request that the role of women is fully recognised. But we recognise that work must continue to ensure the systematic involvement of women at all stages of the conflict cycle. The adoption of UNSCR 1820 in June this year was a significant step forward in strengthening previous calls to address women's under-representation. In September, the UN Security Council held an Open Debate on 'mediation' in conflict resolution reiterating this call and in October, the UN Security Council Open Debate will focus on the need to enhance the role of women in peace processes.
	The UK is at the forefront of international efforts to ensure the comprehensive and effective implementation of UNSCR 1325. We were among the first countries to draw up a national Action Plan setting out action for Government personnel and Departments to implement UNSCR 1325 and have encouraged other countries to do the same. Several European countries have since developed their own action plans. We regularly review the plan in partnership with civil society. We are raising awareness of gender in conflict by ensuring references in all relevant UN Security Council resolutions and in the mandates of peacekeeping operations, and are promoting the role of women in conflict prevention, conflict resolution and peacebuilding through forums in a range of conflict affected countries.
	The UN Peacebuilding Commission was established in 2005, to offer technical assistance to countries emerging from conflict and provide catalytic financial support for reconstruction efforts. The UK is a member of the Commission and has been instrumental in ensuring that UNSCRs 1325 and 1820 are mainstreamed through the Commission's engagement with countries on its agenda.

Somalia: Armed Conflict

Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he plans to take to enhance stability in Somalia in order to facilitate the delivery of aid; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The United Nations Security Council Presidential Statement of 4 September 2008 requested the Secretary-General: elaborate on his contingency plans for an international force in Somalia; asked that he report back to the Council in 60 days on options for the force; and asked that he approach potential contributors of financial resources, personnel and equipment. I await his report with interest.
	Despite the difficult security situation, the Department for International Development has pledged over 20 million in new commitments in 2008, including 12 million to World Food Programme who are distributing over 15,000 metric tonnes of food aid a month.

Somalia: Human Rights

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of progress towards the establishment of independent human rights institutions in Somalia; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The human rights situation in Somalia remains of serious concern. On-going violence and insecurity make it very difficult to gather and verify information, including on human rights. International human rights organisations are unable to operate in much of Somalia due to the security situation. We have no information that any new independent human rights institutions have been established in Somalia.

Somalia: Peacekeeping Operations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in securing the  (a) financial resources,  (b) personnel and  (c) equipment for the international stabilisation force for Somalia; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The UN Security Council Presidential Statement of 4 September 2008 requested the Secretary-General elaborate on his contingency plans for an international force in Somalia; asked that he report back to the Council in 60 days on options for the force; and asked that he approach potential contributors of financial resources, personnel and equipment. I await his report with interest.

Sri Lanka: Commonwealth

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last discussed the situation in Sri Lanka with his Commonwealth counterparts; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The situation in Sri Lanka is not currently on the Commonwealth's agenda. However, Ministers and officials have discussed the matter with individual Commonwealth countries and countries in the region.

Sri Lanka: International Assistance

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Sri Lanka on the evacuation of foreign aid workers and UN staff from the northern regions of the country; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for International Development raised the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka with President Rajapakse on 26 September in New York. They stressed the need for a political solution to the conflict as well as the need to secure humanitarian space and to provide humanitarian relief in the north.

Sudan: Overseas Aid

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in the procurement and transport of donor-provided equipment for Darfur; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: Several donors, including the UK, are equipping troops and police due to deploy with the UN-African Union Peacekeeping Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). Procurement of UK-funded equipment for a Tanzanian infantry battalion is under way. We are in close contact with the UN and other donors to ensure nations contributing to UNAMID have the equipment they need, and we are pressing the UN to use airlift to move equipment rapidly into Darfur.

Sudan: Peace Negotiations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of progress in the Arab League's mediation attempts between the Government of Sudan and the rebel forces; and when he last discussed the matter with his Arab League counterparts.

Gillian Merron: Qatar and the Arab League, with support from the African Union (AU), have proposed a Darfur peace conference, to which the Government of Sudan and Darfur rebel movements would be invited. On 14 September my noble Friend, the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown, stated that we welcome all constructive initiatives towards peace in Darfur under the overall leadership of the UN-AU Chief Mediator, and hope that the Qatar Initiative can make a positive contribution to these efforts. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed this with the Secretary-General of the Arab League Amr Moussa in New York on 25 September.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in identifying countries with the capability to contribute to the police units for the joint UN-AU hybrid force in Darfur; which countries have pledged to contribute; and what each has pledged to contribute.

Gillian Merron: When fully deployed, the UN-African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur will include 19 Formed Police Units (FPUs) of up to 140 police officers each, in addition to 3,772 individual police officers. An FPU from Bangladesh is already deployed in Darfur, and FPUs from Nepal, Indonesia (two), Nigeria (two), Senegal, Egypt, Togo and Bangladesh (two) are scheduled to deploy by the end of 2008. We understand the UN has received further pledges for additional FPUs including from Uganda, Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal, Nigeria, Gambia, Rwanda, and Cameroon.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of the security situation in Darfur on the number of police patrols UNAMID is able to perform around refugee camps at night.

Gillian Merron: Security around refugee camps is improving as more Formed Police Units arrive in Darfur. Most police patrols are in daylight hours. They are being extended to midnight where sufficient manpower and four wheel drive vehicles are available. In some cases, such as around Kalma camp, 24 hour patrolling is now in operation. As additional personnel and vehicles become available, the number of night patrols will increase.

Sudan: Politics and Government

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage the establishment of an effective National Election Commission in Sudan.

Gillian Merron: Through our embassy in Khartoum, we have pressed the Sudanese Government to appoint a credible and effective National Election Commission (NEC) without delay, as an essential step for free and fair elections. The electoral law, passed on 9 July 2008, stipulated the appointment of the NEC within one month of passage of the law. The NEC is still not confirmed.

Sudan: Politics and Government

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the Government are giving to the conduct of the national elections in Sudan that are scheduled for 2009; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: We have worked closely with the UN Mission in Sudan and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) over their technical assistance to the Sudanese government on, for example, the electoral law. We will continue to support the holding of free and fair elections in Sudan, including through contributing to a UNDP managed basket fund.

TREASURY

Bank of England Act 1998

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the operation of the Bank of England Act 1998; what recent representations he has received about this Act; and what  (a) statutory instruments,  (b) departmental circulars and  (c) other documents he (i) has issued and (ii) plans to issue in the next 12 months consequent on the provisions of the Act.

Ian Pearson: The Bank of England Act 1998 requires that the Chancellor specify what price stability is taken to consist of and the Government's economic policy objectives at least once in every period of 12 months beginning on the anniversary of the day the Act came into force. The Chancellor last wrote to the Governor of the Bank of England on this matter on 11 March 2008. Consequentially the Chancellor will write again to the Governor on this matter before 11 March 2009.
	As part of the Banking Bill currently being considered in Parliament the Government are bringing forward measures to strengthen the Bank of England's role in financial stability. This includes providing the Bank with a new statutory objective relating to financial stability, enhancements to the governance arrangements within the Bank, and new policy responsibilities relating to the special resolution regime for banks, and oversight of inter-bank payment systems.
	As part of the process of developing the legislation, the Government, with the Bank of England and FSA issued a consultation document, containing these proposals (Financial Stability and Depositor Protectionfurther consultation)and on which many respondents commented, and supported.
	In line with the Bank of England Act 1998, the Bank of England's annual report and accounts were laid before Parliament in June 2008. The Treasury issues press notices regarding departing and new members of Court as required.
	A full list of orders and statutory instruments that have been issued in relation to the 1998 Bank of England Act are available on the Bank of England website:
	http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/about/legislation/orders.pdf

Bank Services

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure that British business clients of the Landsbanki bank are able to continue to draw on their overdraft facility notwithstanding the Government's freezing of that bank's assets.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 21 October  2008
	HM Treasury has granted a licence to allow Landsbanki London branch to carry out commercial finance, asset based lending and capital markets and fixed income activities, as well as operating customers' business accounts.
	HM Treasury has issued a series of notices providing guidance in relation to the operation of the Landsbanki Freezing Order 2008. These notices confirm that the Freezing Order is specific to Landsbanki and does not freeze the funds of any other Icelandic banks. It does not affect Icelandic companies with no links to Landsbanki. HM Treasury notices can be found at
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/fin_sanctions_landsbanki.htm.

Bank Services

Michael Fallon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what protection is available for UK depositors in Kaupthing Isle of Man banks.

Ian Pearson: holding answer  22 October  2008
	Arrangements for depositors in banks in the Isle of Man are a matter for the Government of the Isle of Man.
	Deposits with Kaupthing, Singer and Friedlander, Isle of Man, will be subject to the Isle of Man deposit compensation scheme.
	In line with usual constitutional arrangements, the Government will represent the Crown Dependencies in its negotiations with the Icelandic authorities.

Bank Services: Guernsey

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the UK Government are responsible for conducting negotiations with the Icelandic authorities on behalf of Guernsey in respect of deposits held by Landsbanki Guernsey; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: Arrangements for depositors in banks in Guernsey are a matter for the Government of Guernsey.
	In line with usual constitutional arrangements, the UK Government will represent the Crown Dependencies in its negotiations with the Icelandic authorities.

Bank Services: Local Government

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce a centralised system of credit approval for all loans made by English local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	We have no plans to introduce any such system. It is for local authorities to assess the creditworthiness of any person to whom they may be making a loan.

Banks

Ann Winterton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the effect the mark to market rules are having on bank liquidity; and what the procedures are for changing those rules.

Ian Pearson: The Government welcome the steps the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) has taken to revise accounting standards to address concerns that the application of fair value accounting may be exacerbating the reduction in some asset prices in the current extraordinary market conditions, while at the same time ensuring alignment of international and US standards. International Financial Reporting Standards are set by the IASB and adopted for use in the EU.

Banks

Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to the remutualisation of  (a) Northern Rock and  (b) Bradford and Bingley.

Ian Pearson: There has been no consideration of remutualising Northern Rock or Bradford and Bingley.

Banks: Compensation

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what mechanisms he plans to put in place to ensure that the banking rescue package does not disadvantage banks which do not seek recourse to it.

Ian Pearson: It should be a commercial decision for each bank whether or not to take part in the package of support measures set out by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 8 and 13 October 2008. The investments being made by the Government are on commercial terms.
	As the Chancellor made clear in his statements, in reviewing applications for the scheme, the authorities will give due regard to the extent to which institutions have substantial business in the UK and their role in the UK banking system and overall economy.

Banks: Debts

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reports he has received on the extent of bad debt held by  (a) UK banks and  (b) banks with a base in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: It is a matter for individual institutions to make appropriate disclosures about their balance sheets. The Government do not comment on individual institutions.

Construction Industry Scheme

Greg Pope: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have lost construction industry scheme status in relation to their tax affairs since 6 April 2007.

Angela Eagle: Under the construction industry scheme, businesses have to continue to meet certain statutory criteria to maintain registration for gross payment. HM Revenue and Customs have cancelled around 10,000 gross payment registrations since 6 April 2007 and registered those businesses for payment under deduction.

Cost of Living

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the turbulence in the financial markets on the cost of living; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: These are difficult times in the global economy. The Government are determined to help families and businesses affected by the global economic difficulties, doing what we can to support those who need it most. The Government will update their forecasts for the UK and world economies, including prices, in the forthcoming pre-Budget report as normal, based on all relevant factors.

Credit Cards: Debts

Dai Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the level of credit card debt in  (a) November 2006 and  (b) the most recent month for which figures are available.

Kevin Brennan: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated October 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what estimate has been made of the level of credit card debt in (a) November 2006 and (b) the last month for which figures are available. (229839)
	At end-November 2006, outstanding consumer credit on credit cards was estimated at 54893 million. At end-August 2008 the estimate was 54574 million. The figures are not seasonally adjusted and come from Table S3.2B of the ONS publication Financial Statistics No 558 October 2008.

Departmental Accountancy

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's  (a) chart of accounts and  (b) resource account codes and usage descriptions for the 2008-09 financial year.

Yvette Cooper: The chart of accounts for 2008-09 reflects the Department's structure for the year and will not necessarily reflect the 2007-08 structure, or that for future years. The chart shows the relationship between parent codes (used for preparing resource accounts and shown in bold) and children codes (used for more detailed management purposes). Each code has a brief description that describes its use. A copy of the chart has been placed in the Library.

Departmental ICT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what IT projects  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its agencies is undertaking; and what the most recent estimate of (i) the cost and (ii) the completion date of each is.

Angela Eagle: The information is as follows.
	
		
			   IT project  Recent estimate of the cost ()  Recent estimate of the completion date 
			 OGCbs Introduction of new video conferencing equipment at our main office locations in Liverpool and Norwich plus the installation of an additional private network connection between the two sites for video traffic. 100,000 End of December 2008 
			 OGCbs Transition to a new web hosting platform to improve performance and resilience. 100,000 End of December 2008 
			 OGCbs Implementation of the Zanzibar electronic marketplace for internal purchasing of goods and services. 132,000 February 2009 
			 OGCbs Upgrade to Supplier and Contracts database and creation of the Management Information Collection Application. This will allow us to better manage suppliers and report on customer spending through our arrangements. 55,000 End of February 2009 
			 HMT OGC Laptop Refresh ProjectPlanned replacement of obsolete equipment with new devices with remote working capabilities. 461,000 November 2008 
			 HMT Group NetworksImplementation of new Restricted network infrastructure for shared services. 580,000 31 October 2008 
			 HMT Common Infrastructure Management Toolsimplementation of single toolset and process for systems management across multiple networks Confidential and Restricted including deployment of software/upgrades and security patches. 450,000 28 November 2008 
			 HMT Firewall Replacement ProjectPlanned replacement of obsolete firewalls to ensure security and compliance of networks and services. 254,000 31 October 2008 
			 HMT Switch Replacement ProjectPlanned replacement of obsolete network infrastructure to ensure delivery, security and performance of networks and services. 675,000 10 November 2008 
			 HMT OGC Blackberryimplementation of Blackberry servers and devices to support the business requirements. 52,000 21 November 2008 
			 DMO Portfolio Management System 105,000 March 2009

Departmental Official Visits

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent on overnight accommodation by his Department's civil servants in the last 12 months.

Angela Eagle: The Treasury's accounting system does not separately identify spending on overnight accommodation within total spending on subsistence.
	All travel and subsistence is conduced in accordance with the requirements of the Ministerial Code, Travel by Ministers and the Civil Service Management Code.

Departmental Pensions

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what proportion of civil servants in his Department and its agencies are members of the  (a) Classic,  (b) Classic Plus,  (c) Nuvos and  (d) Premium civil service pension schemes.

Angela Eagle: The information requested is detailed in the following table:
	
		
			  Department/Agency  Classic  Classic Plus  Premium  Nuvos 
			   Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 HM Treasury 520 44 60 5 428 36 149 13) 
			 DMO 28 36 3 4 29 38 13 17 
			 OGC 111 48 5 2 71 30 44 19 
			 OGC Buying Solutions 147 54 10 4 91 34 12 5 
		
	
	Some civil servants have opted out of the PCSPS or have chosen the Partnership option. The aforementioned data is correct as of the September 2008 payroll.

Departmental Temporary Employment

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which companies were used by his Department for providing temporary staff in each of the last five years; and what the value of contracts with each such company was in each of those years.

Angela Eagle: HM Treasury has used the following companies to provide temporary staff since 2004-05. The table shows the total spend each year with each company.
	
		
			   
			   Financial year 
			  Supplier  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Brook Street 105,144 231,994 333,340 105,435 
			 Huntress 43,915 57,241 49,910 27,071 
			 Kelly Services123,254 
			 Office Angels 18,521 19,271 38,182  
			 OSR9,352 
			 Reed  3,131  53,073 
			 Total 167,580 311,637 421,432 318,185 
		
	
	As a result of the introduction of a new accounting system, details of companies used prior to 2004-05 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	OGC have used the following companies to provide temporary staff since 2006-07. The table shows the total spend each year with each company.
	
		
			   
			   Financial year 
			  Supplier  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Reed Employment 94,273 41,348 
			 Reed Personnel 51,457 46,362 
			 Brook Street 38,986 1,111 
			 Carlisle Staffing 132,553 27,004 
			 Addeco 79,503  
			 Manpower 33,784  
			 Select Appointments PLC 36,985  
			 Kelly Services  96,593 
		
	
	As a result of the introduction of a new accounting system, details of companies used prior to 2006-07 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

EC Grants and Loans

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of European Union funding in each region was administered by  (a) Government departments,  (b) regional development agencies,  (c) local authorities and  (d) other bodies in the latest period for which information is available.

Ian Pearson: Details of total United Kingdom public sector receipts from the EC Budget, i.e. those receipts which pass through Government Departments are given in Table 3.3, page 25, of the 2008 European Community Finances White Paper (Cm 7462) published on 10 September 2008. An estimate of the expected level of receipts paid direct to the private sector in 2008 is given in paragraph 3.10, page 22 of the White Paper.

Geographical Information Systems: Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate the Valuation Office Agency has made of the cost of implementing its plans for a geographical information system.

Stephen Timms: The current estimated cost of developing the Valuation Office Agency's geographical information system is 3.4 million.

Government Departments: Annual Reports

Tony Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library the guidance provided by HM Treasury to departments on what they should disclose in their 2008 autumn performance reports.

Angela Eagle: A copy of the guidance to Departments on their 2008 autumn performance reports (APRs) is being deposited in the Library.

Government Departments: Annual Reports

Tony Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his practice to place in the Library copies of the guidance provided by HM Treasury to Departments on what they should disclose in departmental annual reports and autumn performance reports, on each occasion that such guidance is issued.

Angela Eagle: A copy of the guidance issued on annual departmental reports and autumn performance reports will now be placed in the Library each time they are issued.

Income Tax: Self-assessment

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps HM Revenue and Customs has taken to ensure the efficient administration of online tax returns for the 2007-08 tax year.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 23 October 2008
	During this year, HMRC has made substantial investment in its online filing service for Self-Assessment (SA). HMRC's free software for SA, used by unrepresented individuals, has been redesigned to make it much easier for customers to complete. HMRC has also updated its underpinning IT infrastructure, providing greater capacity, resilience and enhanced management information. This information helps HMRC ensure that peak demands are successfully managed.

Inflation

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he  (a) has taken and  (b) plans to take in response to recent trends in the rate of inflation; what representations he has received on this issue since July 2008; what steps he took in response to those representations; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of England has operational responsibility for the conduct of monetary policy the Chancellor and other Treasury Ministers receive a wide number of representations on economic and statistical issues. The Government will update their forecasts for the UK and world economies in the forthcoming pre-Budget report as normal, based on all relevant factors.

Local Government Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate  (a) his Department,  (b) the Bank of England and  (c) the Financial Services Authority has made of the number of local authorities which have deposits in Icelandic-owned banks.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 13 October 2008
	The FSA holds information on the deposits held in banks as part of its normal regulatory duties. This information is commercially confidential.
	The Local Government Association has undertaken a survey of local authorities data, which can be found at:
	http://www.lga.gov.uk/lga/core/page.do?pageld=1124305

Local Government Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the guarantee given to UK savers in Icelandic-owned banks will apply to investments made by local authorities.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 13 October 2008
	I refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement made by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on 14 October 2008,  Official Report, column 35WS.

Members: Correspondence

John Barrett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh West's letter of 25 July 2008 on his constituents Miss M. Murray and Mr. Stuart Fleming.

Stephen Timms: My predecessor replied on 27 August. A copy of her letter is being forwarded to the hon. Member.

Monetary Policy Committee

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what process is followed for appointment of members of the Monetary Policy Committee.

Ian Pearson: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the 1998 Bank of England Act, Section 13 and Schedule 3, paragraphs 1-9.
	Further to this, the Chancellor and the Prime Minister have made several additional announcements on the appointments process for members of the Monetary Policy Committee.
	The Government made two announcements regarding the process of making external appointments to the MPC in summer 2007. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the Pre-Budget Report 2007 (cm7227), Chapter 2 paragraphs 2.8 and 2.9, for a description of these changes:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/pbr_csr07_chapter2_197.pdf
	On 19 June 2008, the Chancellor wrote to the Chair of the Treasury Select committee detailing a further set of changes to appointments process. These are described in the Treasury press release on this matter:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/press_65_08.htm

Northern Rock: Repossession Orders

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the policy of Northern Rock is on repossessing homes; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for Carmarthen and Dinefwr (Adam Price) on 21 July 2008,  Official Report, column 728W.

Public Expenditure

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 15 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1739W, on public expenditure, what, in near cash terms, the amount of negative departmental expenditure limit income retained by departments was, broken down on the same basis as tables 1.7 and 1.10 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis 2008 (HC 489, 2007-08).

Yvette Cooper: The following tables show the negative departmental expenditure limit included in central Government departmental budgets published in Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2008 (HC 489). The main components are sales of goods and services (including by NHS and Foundation Trusts), grants from the EC and transfers from other Departments, for example in respect of co-funded non-departmental public bodies. The Consolidated Budgeting Guidance details all types of income that can be treated as a benefit to departmental budgets and is available at the following link:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/4/1/consolidated_budguid010208.pdf
	
		
			  Near-cash in resource DEL by departmental group( 1) 
			   million 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Children, Schools and Families -58 -129 -91 -87 -77 -57 
			
			 Health -7,764 -8,565 -9,646 -11,153 -10,206 -10,423 
			  O f which:   
			 NHS England -7,661 -8,441 -9,526 -11,005 -9,993 -10,132 
			
			 Transport -575 -583 -768 -857 -1,008 -1,076 
			 Innovation, Universities and Skills -4,438 -5,054 -5,605 -6,446 -6,977 -7,195 
			 CLG Communities -167 -127 -193 -198 -261 -246 
			 CLG Local Government -12 -4 -5 -2 -10 0 
			 Justice -700 -912 -1,349 -1,153 -1,393 -1,145 
			 Home Office -234 -365 -777 -786 -916 -1,150 
			 Law Officers' Departments -100 -112 -100 -107 -130 -158 
			 Defence -1,434 -1,383 -1,227 -1,440 -1,495 -1,347 
			 Foreign and Commonwealth Office -172 -204 -245 -327 -342 -414 
			 International Development -19 -8 -12 -8 -11 -10 
			 Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform -1,133 -1,275 -1,299 -2,550 -2,445 -2,287 
			 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs -2,807 -2,815 -2,737 -3,046 -2,756 -2,585 
			 Culture, Media and Sport -313 -330 -374 -353 -427 -392 
			 Work and Pensions -564 -689 -779 -903 -893 -857 
			 Scotland -1,182 -1,060 -978 -820 -874 -936 
			 Wales -431 -448 -285 -504 -491 -417 
			 Northern Ireland Executive -910 -974 -1,184 -1,380 -1,271 -1,400 
			 Northern Ireland Office -95 -91 -98 -104 -104 -107 
			 Chancellor's Departments -660 -682 -700 -768 -703 -747 
			 Cabinet Office -73 -96 -126 -183 -207 -214 
			 Independent Bodies -62 -67 -78 -73 -84 -83 
		
	
	
		
			  Capital DEL by departmental group( 1) 
			   million 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Children, Schools and Families 0 -2 -1 0 -1 0 
			
			 Health -1,261 -551 -533 -1,208 -1,167 -515 
			  O f which:   
			 NHS England -1,259 -551 -533 -1,208 -1,167 -515 
			
			 Transport -76 -138 -89 -79 -53 -88 
			 Innovation, Universities and Skills -23 -62 -49 -146 -38 -113 
			 CLG Communities -199 -353 -379 -625 -629 -751 
			 CLG Local Government   0   -31 
			 Justice -20 -55 -22 -9 -21 -12 
			 Home Office 3 -12 0 -9 0 -14 
			 Law Officers' Departments-34 0 0 
			 Defence -350 -252 -350 -705 -480 -539 
			 Foreign and Commonwealth Office -17 -27 -12 -18 -58 -15 
			 International Development -39 -41 -32 -32 -35 -38 
			 Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform -1,687 -1,332 -1,101 -1,195 -1,369 -1,255 
			 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs -46 -17 -13 -26 -34 -12 
			 Culture, Media and Sport -100 -142 -72 -114 -114 -152 
			 Work and Pensions -19 -168 -10 -57 -22 -17 
			 Scotland -79 -202 -247 -196 -216 -206 
			 Wales -27 -129 -130 -119 -131 -193 
			 Northern Ireland Executive -235 -361 -400 -361 -407 -322 
			 Northern Ireland Office 0 0 -1 -4 -2 -79 
			 Chancellor's Departments -103 -2 -97 -33 -11 -1 
			 Cabinet Office -1 -71 -1 -1 -12 -17 
			 Independent Bodies 0 0 0 0 -8 0 
			 (1) '' indicate no income whereas zeros indicate income of less than 0.5 million.

Public Expenditure

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 (Cm 7227, 2006/07), what the expected level, in near cash terms, of  (a) negative resource Departmental Expenditure Level (DEL) and  (b) negative capital DEL income to be retained by Departments is, broken down on the same basis as tables 1.7 and 1.10 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analysis 2008, (HC 489, 2007-08).

Yvette Cooper: The following tables show the negative DEL included in central Government departmental budgets published in Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2008 (HC 489). This shows the expected income as at the 2007 comprehensive spending review, updated with classification and policy changes. The main components are sales of goods and services (including by NHS and foundation trusts), grants from the EC and transfers from other Departments, for example, in respect of co-funded non-departmental public bodies. The Consolidated Budgeting Guidance details all types of income that can be treated as a benefit to departmental budgets and is available at the following link:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/4/1/consolidated_budguid010208.pdf
	
		
			  Near-cash in resource DEL by departmental group 
			   million( 1) 
			   2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			 Children, Schools and Families -24 -24 -24 
			 
			 Health -10,795 -10,429 -11,040 
			  Of which:
			 NHS England -10,684 -10,301 -10,908 
			 
			 Transport -984 -1,157 -1,385 
			 Innovation, Universities and Skills -7,178 -7,449 -7,775 
			 CLG Communities -172 -333 -324 
			 CLG Local Government 0 0 0 
			 Justice -1,222 -1,209 -1,235 
			 Home Office -1,125 -1,299 -1,354 
			 Law Officers' Departments -154 -154 -154 
			 Defence -1,283 -1,316 -1,352 
			 Foreign and Commonwealth Office -460 -382 -382 
			 International Development -10 -10 -10 
			 Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform -2,741 -2,846 -2,726 
			 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs -2,406 -2,313 -2,268 
			 Culture, Media and Sport -130 -130 -160 
			 Work and Pensions -850 -605 -597 
			 Scotland -1,044 -966 -970 
			 Wales -459 -447 -449 
			 Northern Ireland Executive -1,252 -1,156 -1,180 
			 Northern Ireland Office -103 -104 -104 
			 Chancellor's Departments -688 -676 -670 
			 Cabinet Office -216 -158 -161 
		
	
	
		
			  Capital DEL by departmental group 
			   million( 1) 
			   2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			 Health -286 -146 -30 
			  Of which:
			 NHS England -286 -146 -30 
			 
			 Transport -58 -49 -52 
			 Innovation, Universities and Skills -211 -211 -211 
			 CLG Communities -570 -641 -632 
			 Justice -27 0 0 
			 Defence -1   
			 Foreign and Commonwealth Office -215 -531 -186 
			 International Development -18 -18 -18 
			 Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform -20 -20 -20 
			 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs -1,173 -1,140 -1,164 
			 Culture, Media and Sport -41 -13 -8 
			 Work and Pensions -444 -1,152 -932 
			 Scotland -25 -25 -25 
			 Wales -176 -173 -97 
			 Northern Ireland Executive -160 -155 -155 
			 Chancellor's Departments -655 -438 -730 
			 Cabinet Office -4 -4 -4 
			 (1) '' indicate no income whereas zeros indicate income of less than 0.5 million.

Public Sector: Pay

Chris McCafferty: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of differences in treatment of civil servants and other public sector staff in  (a) pay rises and  (b) the funding of pay progression, with particular reference to the use of recyclable elements to fund such progression.

Yvette Cooper: Civil service pay decisions are delegated to individual Departments. These pay decisions must fall within the parameters set out in the Treasury's annual Pay Remit Guidance, which includes specific guidance on the recycling of savings back in to the pay bill.
	Parameters for the coming year will be set out in the 2009-10 guidance. The objectives of the Remit Process are:
	To ensure that increases to pay are affordable within the overall fiscal environment, offer value for money and are consistent with the Bank of England achieving its inflation target of 2 per cent.;
	To ensure that levels of pay are set at the amount necessary to recruit and retain staff;
	To ensure that pay in the civil service reflects, and is responsive to, the wider public sector and private sector labour market; and
	To ensure that pay is fair across the whole of the civil service and not discriminatory.
	The precise method of controlling pay differs across the public sector but the Government's public sector pay policy, which includes the civil service, is that pay should:
	Reflect the individual labour market position of work forces, particularly the need to recruit and retain staff;
	Be consistent with the Bank of England achieving its CPI inflation target of 2 per cent.;
	Be affordable for Departments; and
	Represent value for money for taxpayers.

Repossession Orders

Dai Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to take possession of houses and flats on which mortgage-holders with Northern Rock and Bradford and Bingley have defaulted and allocate the properties to those on the waiting list for social housing.

Ian Pearson: Northern Rock and Bradford and Bingley are run at arm's length from the Government, on commercial principles. The Government have made increasing the provision of social housing a priority in successive Spending Reviews. In England, the Government are investing 8 billion over the next three years in affordable housinga 50 per cent. increase over the last three years.

Tax Credit: Complaints

David Evennett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints from customers in  (a) Bexley and  (b) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency on tax credits his Department received in each year since tax credits were introduced.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is not available at constituency level.

Tax Yields: Gaming Machines

Don Foster: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many category B1 gaming machines there are in casinos in each region; and how much value-added tax revenue accrued from customer spending on B1 gaming machines in the most recent period for which information is available.

Angela Eagle: In 2007-08 there were 2,634 category B1 gaming machines in casinos. The regional breakdown and the amount of VAT from customer spending on gaming machines are not available.

Taxation: Aviation

Graham Stringer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what economic modelling he has undertaken in assessing the likely effect of the introduction of the proposed new aviation duty; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect on the number of flights using UK airports of the introduction of the proposed new aviation duty.

Bob Laxton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what modelling has been undertaken in assessing the likely impact on the economic viability of the aviation industry of the introduction of the proposed new aviation duty;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the likely effect on the number of flights using UK airports of the introduction of the proposed new aviation duty.

John Leech: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what modelling has been undertaken to assess the likely effect on the financial viability of the aviation industry of the introduction of the proposed new aviation duty;
	(2)  what estimate has been made of the likely effect on the number of flights using UK airports of the introduction of the proposed aviation duty.

Paul Rowen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the likely effect on the number of flights using UK airports of the introduction of the proposed aviation duty;
	(2)  what modelling of likely effects on the economic viability of the aviation industry of the introduction of the proposed aviation duty he has undertaken.

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what modelling has been undertaken in assessing the likely impact on the economic viability of the aviation industry following the introduction of aviation duty;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect on the number of flights using UK airports of the introduction of the proposed aviation duty.

David Wilshire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what modelling his Department has undertaken to assess the likely effect of the proposed introduction of aviation duty on the economic viability of the aviation industry;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the effect of the introduction of the proposed aviation duty on the number of flights using UK airports.

Angela Eagle: A formal consultation on aviation duty was published on 31 January 2008 and closed on 24 April 2008. 170 consultation responses were received and these have been considered in developing the policy.
	The Government are modelling overall impacts of the tax on the whole economy, including airports and the aviation industry. The details of the duty have not yet been set. The Chancellor plans to make an announcement in the autumn.

Taxation: Self-assessment

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the loss to the Exchequer caused by late tax returns in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: No such estimate has been made.

Taxation: Self-assessment

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much income was received from  (a) penalty charges and  (b) interest charged to people who did not meet tax return deadlines in each of the last five years. [Official Report, 20 November 2008, Vol. 483, c. 4MC.]

Stephen Timms: The following information relates to self-assessment tax returns.
	 (a) The following penalty charges were charged for the late submission of self-assessment tax returns. The figures relate to each of the tax assessment years rather than the year in which income was received.
	
		
			  Tax year   million 
			 2003-04 73.7 
			 2004-05 126.1 
			 2005-06 113.2 
			 2006-07 149.4 
			 2007-08 (1) 
			 (1) Return due: Paper: 31 October 2008 Online: 31 January 2009. 
		
	
	Information is only available for four tax years. Information prior to 2003-04, can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	 (b) Interest is not charged for late submission of a self-assessment tax return; interest is charged on the late payment of any income tax due. While interest charges may arise on a tax liability following late submission of a tax return, this information is not available separately from interest charged generally on income tax liabilities that are paid late.

Taxation: Self-assessment

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on his policy of advertising deadlines for tax returns to be made.

Stephen Timms: There have been no recent representations.

Taxation: Self-assessment

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent on advertising the need for people to make timely tax returns in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: Media costs for the Self Assessment campaign for the last five years are as follows:
	
		
			
			 2003-04 5,527,234.00 
			 2004-05 5,462,351.00 
			 2005-06 5,994,946.00 
			 2006-07 3,009,975.00 
			 2007-08 1,928,725.00

Treating Customers Fairly Scheme

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the average cost of investigating an independent financial adviser under the Treating Customers Fairly scheme was in the last 12 months;
	(2)  how many complaints the Financial Services Authority have received about independent financial advisers under the Treating Customers Fairly scheme in the last 12 months; how many were investigated; and how many investigations resulted in penalties or other sanctions being imposed on the adviser concerned.

Ian Pearson: The matters raised in these questions are the responsibility of the FSA, whose day to day operations are independent from Government control and influence. I have asked the Chief Executive of the FSA to write to the hon. Member on the issues he raises.

VAT: Channel Islands

Bill Olner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his officials are participating in the European Commission's investigation into the legality of the continued availability of low value consignment relief from value added tax in respect of imports of food supplements, herbal remedies and other items from the Channel Islands; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: A reply was sent to the European Commission in April 2008 by HMRC. This was in response to the Commission's request for comment about the UK's application of the low value consignment relief.
	To date no further correspondence has been received.

VAT: Local Government

Mark Fisher: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which items of expenditure in a local election or local referendum are liable for value added tax.

Stephen Timms: The normal VAT liability rules will apply to expenditure in connection with local elections or local referenda. They will be subject to VAT at the standard rate unless covered by any of the reduced rate, zero rate or exemption provisions.

Welfare Tax Credits

Charles Hendry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 17 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 1593-94W, on social security benefits, how many people applied for either working tax credit or child tax credit in each month since January 2006.

Stephen Timms: The number of new claims for working tax credit or child tax credit received from households in each month since January 2006 is given in the following table. It is not possible to say how many people are included in each claim except at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			   New claims received by household 
			  200 6  
			 January 89,397 
			 February 101,742 
			 March 113,842 
			 April 66,273 
			 May 108,440 
			 June 110,773 
			 July 84,857 
			 August 119,459 
			 September 117,658 
			 October 115,724 
			 November 115,482 
			 December 78,388 
			   
			  2007  
			 January 97,324 
			 February 101,048 
			 March 116,460 
			 April 81,984 
			 May 90,815 
			 June 110,234 
			 July 100,482 
			 August 111,926 
			 September 91,973 
			 October 116,177 
			 November 115,522 
			 December 72,092 
			   
			  2008  
			 January 88,503 
			 February 103,560 
			 March 102,006 
			 April 94,724 
			 May 100,102 
			 June 107,390 
			 July 121,180 
			 August 104,541 
			 September 120,090

Welfare Tax Credits: Chelmsford

Simon Burns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints from customers in West Chelmsford constituency he received on tax credits in each year for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is not available at constituency level.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Chris McCafferty: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to answer question 221509, tabled on 17 July 2008 for named day answer on 22 July 2008, on Civil Service pay.

Yvette Cooper: I have done so.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Departmental ICT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Leader of the House what IT projects her Office is undertaking; and what the most recent estimate of  (a) the cost and  (b) the completion date of each is.

Chris Bryant: The Leader of the House of Commons' Office is currently considering the feasibility of one IT project, the Electronic Parliamentary Community (ePC), the aim of which is to enable the processing of parliamentary questions and answers electronically between Parliament and Government Departments.
	Funding for the project is subject to approval by the Cabinet Office. A completion date will be established if funding is approved.

Departmental Information Officers

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Leader of the House 
	(1)  how many press and communications officers her Office employs;
	(2)  how much her Office spent on salaries for press and communications officers in each of the last three years.

Chris Bryant: None. Press office services are provided by the Cabinet Office Communication Group.

Departmental Recruitment

Mark Hoban: To ask the Leader of the House how many civil servants in her Office were recruited through the fast stream; and what the average salary of those officials is.

Chris Bryant: None.

Trade Unions

Mark Hoban: To ask the Leader of the House how many civil servants in her Office were seconded to work for  (a) trade unions and  (b) the Trades Union Congress in each year since 2003.

Chris Bryant: None.

Departmental Older Workers

David Simpson: To ask the Leader of the House how many people aged over  (a) 55 and  (b) 60 years were recruited to work in her Office in 2007-08; and what percentage in each case this was of the number of new recruits.

Chris Bryant: None.